NEWARK
– A nurse charged with murdering a
patient at Jersey Shore Medical Center agreed
last night to a voluntary temporary suspension
of her license pending final action by the
Board of Nursing.
The
Board of Nursing was prepared to vote on
suspending the license held by Lorie Hentges
if she had not agreed to the voluntary temporary
license suspension. A grand jury in Monmouth
County last week indicted Hentges for murder.
An
Administrative Complaint filed by the Office
of the Attorney General with the Board of
Nursing alleges that Hentges’ actions
grossly deviate from accepted protocols
and also constitute criminal conduct. The
Attorney General sought her suspension on
the grounds that she presented a danger
to the safety and welfare of the public.
“This
licensee cannot be allowed to work as a
nurse given the crime she is alleged to
have committed,” said David Szuchman,
Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Hentges
will be permitted to continue to work as
a data collector at the Pain Control Center
in Brick. She will not have access to medication
and not perform any nursing duties. Hentges
and her attorney agreed that should she
violate these conditions, her nursing license
will be revoked.
The
Board of Nursing is one of the licensing
boards within the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Deputy
Attorney General Kim D. Ringler is representing
the state in this matter.
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