Police: Nurse used patient prescriptions to get painkillers

IOWA CITY - A nurse is accused of using her patients' prescriptions to obtain painkillers.

According to University of Iowa police criminal complaints, on May 12, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics contacted a patient about her nurse, 32-year-old Jessica R. DeBrower, requesting to fill the patient's prescription for oxycodone, an opiate painkiller. The patient told UIHC staff she did not want DeBrower to fill the prescription nor did she authorize her to do so.

UI spokesman Tom Moore said DeBrower is a visiting nurse who was employed by Mercy Iowa City. She was never employed by UIHC, Moore said.

Police said DeBrower attempted to pick up the prescription on May 13. However, the hospital pulled the prescription before she was able to pick it up.

Four days later on May 17, DeBrower picked up a patient's prescription for hydrocodone - another opiate painkiller - without permission from the patient or the right to do so, police said. The patient contacted UIHC staff and alerted them to DeBrower's actions.

Police said DeBrower admitted to picking up the prescription, but told an officer she 'panicked” when the patient's family called her and she disposed of the medicine.

According to documents filed by the Iowa Board of Nursing in October 2014, DeBrower has previously admitted to obtaining opiate painkillers for her own use. While employed at a long-term care facility that is not identified in the documents, DeBrower took Lortab beginning in winter 2013 until April 2014, when she resigned from her position. The nursing board documents state she was placed on a year of probation in October 2014.

DeBrower has been arrested and faces charges of prohibited acts, a Class C felony; and unlawful possession of a prescription drug, a serious misdemeanor. If convicted of both counts, DeBrower faces up to 11 years in prison.