Former VA nurse pleads guilty to diverting pain meds from dying patients

A former Department of Veterans Affairs nurse has pled guilty in federal court to charges that she diverted narcotics from veterans under her care while working at an ICU unit for sick and dying patients at the West Haven VA Medical Center.

According to a Department of Justice release, from January to July of 2023 Tara Severino, 58, of West Haven , ingested fentanyl, hydromorphone, and oxycodone intended for patients in her care.

“In some instances, Severino ingested the `waste’ of a substance, meaning she administered part of the substance to a patient and ingested the remaining portion not used by the patient.” the release reads. “In one instance, Severino repeatedly introduced fentanyl into the system of a braindead patient after claiming she observed him in pain and having a seizure.  She introduced fentanyl to this patient approximately 19 times over a nine-day period so that she could divert some for herself.”

Severino also ingested doses of hydromorphone and fentanyl meant for dying veterans, according to the release. This affected treatment decisions made by other medical staff who believed that the patients had been receiving, and were unresponsive to, their prescribed narcotics.

Severino also volunteered to care for a patient not formally assigned to her, and diverted pain medication from him before he died, the release states.

In order to cover up her crimes, Severino misrepresented in VA medical records and tracking systems that the narcotics been properly administered to the patient or, in the case of excess narcotics, had been properly disposed of.

Severino pleaded guilty to obtaining controlled substances by fraud or subterfuge on June 18. The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years.  She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on Sept. 12.  She is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing.

VA is continuing to investigate this case. If the actions of Severino may have victimized you or someone you know while she was employed at the VA, contact Special Agent Abraham Raymond at (202) 262-2337 or here .

Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .