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VA Medical Center Nurse Sentenced Over Diverting Drugs

November 7, 2012 Department of Justice
United States Attorney William C. Killian Eastern District of Tennessee
Jonesborough Nurse Sentenced For Diverting Drugs At VA Medical Center

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Sharon Minns Kyker, 51, of Jonesborough, Tenn., was sentenced on November 7, 2012, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve three years of probation.

Kyker pleaded guilty in April 2012 to a charge of obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception, and subterfuge. She had been employed as a registered nurse at the James H. Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center since 1991. In February 2009 Kyker was found to have diverted a quantity of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) by falsely documenting that she had provided a dose to a patient. After the misconduct was discovered, she resigned from her position.

During her term of probation, Kyker will be required to participate in mental health and substance abuse treatment, is prohibited from holding employment which involves access to patient medications, and must perform 50 hours of community service.

Agencies involved in this investigation included the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Smith represented the United States.

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