Article: Patients got saltwater, not pain med; A Mankato hospital has fired a nurse accused of swapping out a narcotic meant for patients and later using the drug.(NEWS)

Byline: JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY; STAFF WRITER

A nurse at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato has been fired for allegedly replacing the powerful narcotic fentanyl with sterile saltwater in vials used for patients undergoing medical procedures.

The nurse later used the drug, said Dr. Greg Kutcher, hospital president, which is part of the Mayo Health System. He would not identify the nurse, but the nurse has been fired and reported to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Minnesota Board of Nursing for potential criminal and professional disciplinary investigations.

Letters were sent to 335 patients telling them that they may have been ...

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