Baltimore Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Narcotics from Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

A licensed registered nurse has been convicted and sentenced for diverting a controlled dangerous substance from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Kaitlyn Elizabeth Chalmers was sentenced on September 9, 2026, by the Honorable Alan C. Lazarow of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

According to information from the Maryland Attorney General’s office, on June 25, 2025, Chalmers was responsible for administering morphine to a 10-year-old patient who was recovering from open heart surgery. Chalmers documented in the patient’s medical records that the child received intravenous morphine at 8:30 a.m. Later, around 9:18 a.m., the child reported experiencing severe pain. When questioned by another nurse about administering additional morphine, Chalmers stated she had provided a second dose at approximately 11:30 a.m. However, this second dose was not recorded in the patient’s medical chart. Chalmers had suggested the child was not responding to the prescribed morphine and may have developed a tolerance, an assertion disputed by the care team who noted the child was opioid-naive and had experienced well-managed pain the previous day.

During that same shift, a nurse witnessed Chalmers exiting a staff bathroom with signs of intravenous drug use, including bruising and bleeding on her arm. Other nurses in the PICU also reported that Chalmers appeared impaired. Following these observations, UMMC requested a drug screening, which Chalmers refused. She was subsequently removed from the PICU and her employment was terminated.

On June 20, 2026, Chalmers pleaded guilty to obtaining morphine by fraud. Morphine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance and is used for managing severe pain. For her actions, Chalmers received a sentence of one year, with all but 30 days suspended. She will be under two years of supervised probation and is prohibited from caring for children during this period. Furthermore, Chalmers is excluded from participating in state and federal healthcare programs.

The investigation and prosecution of this case involved significant efforts from the Maryland Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit. The unit is funded by a combination of federal and state resources. For federal fiscal year 2026, 75 percent of the unit’s funding, totaling $7,119,096, comes from a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, amounting to $2,373,032 for FY 2026, is provided by the State of Maryland.

For residents of Maryland, particularly those concerned with patient safety and the integrity of healthcare services, this case highlights the importance of vigilance within medical facilities. The conviction and sentencing of a healthcare professional for diverting narcotics underscores the potential risks to vulnerable patients and the measures taken to hold individuals accountable. The prohibition against Chalmers caring for children during her probation and her exclusion from healthcare programs are intended to protect public welfare and prevent future harm.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.

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