Albrightsville woman has nursing license suspended

The State Board of Nursing recently suspended the license of an Albrightsville nurse who failed to report her criminal conviction in Northampton County.

Maria Immogene Francis had her license suspended for a minimum of three years and was also assessed a $500 civil penalty after an evidentiary hearing in September.

According to paperwork filed by the state as part of the case, Francis pleaded guilty in Northampton County Court in February 2019 to theft by deception, a third-degree felony. She was sentenced the following month to a prison term of 90 days to 23 months and ordered to have a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Easton police filed the charges against Francis, who they say stole her patient’s medication, hydrocodone bitartrate acetaminophen, while at the Gardens of Easton Nursing Home on May 3, 2018. The medication, which Francis used to self-medicate chronic pain and other ailments, is a schedule II controlled substance. Police said Francis also falsified records at the facility to show that she was administering the medication to the patient, when in fact she stole it for herself.

“As of Sept. 4, 2019, (Francis) had not reported to the board of nursing that criminal charges had been filed against her, or that she had pleaded guilty and been sentenced,” according to paperwork filed by hearing examiner Thomas A. Blackburn. She had been required to do so within 30 days of those actions.

“A nurse is expected to be sufficiently trustworthy to handle an employer’s or patient’s property, including drugs,” Blackburn wrote in his decision. “These violations were significant. (Francis) volunteered that at the time she committed her crime, she had a drug addiction.”

Francis did not attend the hearing held in September regarding her license.

At the conclusion of her license suspension, Francis may seek reinstatement.

“(Francis) will be required to demonstrate that she is able to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients,” Blackburn said, “and if appropriate that practice may be limited to monitored conditions.”