Nurse Caught Taking Versed From Patient’s IV Bag—Faces Felony Charge

A former intensive care unit nurse at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, has been indicted on one count of prescription drug fraud after allegedly extracting the sedative Versed from a patient's IV bag, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Joseph Juszak, 32, was indicted by a Sullivan County grand jury last week following a months-long investigation by the TBI's Medicaid Fraud Control Division and Drug Investigation Division. He turned himself in on Friday and was booked into the Sullivan County Jail on a $12,500 bond.

The case centers on an incident in September 2024 in which Juszak allegedly entered a patient's room, one who was not under his care, and used a syringe to extract Versed from their IV bag while the medication was paused.

What the Investigation Revealed

TBI special agents launched their investigation in July 2025 at the request of District Attorney General Barry Staubus. According to the agency, the probe revealed that Juszak had "fraudulently obtained a controlled substance" from an ICU patient's room in September 2024.

A Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Disciplinary Action Report from July 2025 provides more detail: Juszak "was observed using a syringe to extract Versed from the IV bag of a patient" who was not under his care. The report also states that Juszak refused to submit to a drug screen when confronted by hospital staff.

Versed, the brand name for midazolam, is a benzodiazepine commonly used in hospital settings to reduce anxiety and produce sedation before procedures or surgery. As a controlled substance, its handling and administration are subject to strict protocols.

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How the Incident Unfolded

A May 2025 consent order between Juszak and the state paints a more detailed picture of the alleged incident. According to the order, while on shift in the Holston Valley ICU, Juszak asked another nurse if any of her patients were taking Versed. When he learned that one patient had an IV bag of Versed and the medication was currently paused, he "entered that patient's room and was witnessed using a syringe to extract some of the Versed from the patient's IV bag."

When confronted, Juszak told hospital staff that he had placed the syringe in one of his own patients' rooms, where it was later recovered. He allegedly denied diverting the medication for personal use and instead claimed he planned to administer it to his patient because a request for a Versed order for that patient had been rejected.

According to the consent order, Juszak "refused to submit a sample for both a for-cause drug screen and a blood-borne pathogen test when asked and instead immediately resigned from his position at HVMC."

The Tennessee Department of Health revoked Juszak's nursing license in July 2025.

Joseph Juszak was indicted on one count of prescription drug fraud (Tenn. Code § 53-11-402(a)(1)).

Specific charge details

• Statute: Tennessee Code Annotated § 53-11-402 – "Obtaining controlled substances by fraud or misrepresentation"
• Count: 1 felony count
• Bond: $12,500 (posted; released)

What Nurses Need to Know

Drug diversion in healthcare settings remains a serious concern across the industry. The term refers to any situation in which a controlled substance is redirected from its intended patient for unauthorized use, whether personal or otherwise. Hospitals rely on strict chain-of-custody protocols, automated dispensing systems, and witness requirements to prevent exactly this type of incident.

This case highlights several key points for nurses.

• First, being witnessed by a colleague was the catalyst for the entire investigation. Coworkers who observe suspicious behavior around controlled substances have both a professional and legal obligation to report it.
• Second, refusing a for-cause drug screen, as Juszak allegedly did, can carry serious consequences on its own, including immediate license action regardless of whether diversion is ultimately proven.

For nurses, the takeaway is clear: controlled substance protocols exist to protect patients, staff, and the integrity of the profession. Even the allegation of diversion can result in license revocation, criminal charges, and the end of a career. If you suspect drug diversion in your workplace, report it through proper channels immediately.

It is important to note that an indictment is not a conviction. Juszak has been charged but has not been found guilty, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise in court.

🤔 Have you ever witnessed suspicious behavior involving controlled substances at your workplace? How did your facility handle it? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Crime