Investigator says evidence shows nurse was intoxicated at work and gave prescription drugs to coworker

An investigator for the Department testified at a disciplinary hearing that there is a preponderance of evidence that nurse Liza Paulson was intoxicated while on duty and that she gave prescription medication to a coworker.

Bridal Bisson, identified in the hearing as a lead investigator who handled DDS investigations for the Kennedy Collective, told the panel that an intake from the centralized abuse investigation division showed "a report that Ms. Paulson had worked under the influence of narcotics while performing her duties here" and that his investigation found sufficient evidence that "she had been intoxicated while working at the Kennedy Center and as a result was putting the people under her supervision at risk." He also testified that the investigation substantiated that Paulson "had distributed medication to people who was not prescribed for, while she was here."

The finding followed interviews Bisson described as part of a multi-source investigation. He said coworker number 1 reported seeing Paulson apparently under the influence and said she had received medication from Paulson. Bisson said he interviewed two nurses who reportedly escorted Paulson home on the day of the alleged incident; one, Erica Nagy, corroborated that she transported Paulson home and recalled advising Paulson to notify a supervisor. Bisson said another nurse,…