Nursing Assistant Accused In Thefts

A Spokane nursing assistant is being investigated by the state Department of Health after money and clothes were stolen from residents at a South Hill nursing home.

Nearly $1,000, clothes and credit cards were among items taken in 33 thefts at the St. Brendan Continuing Care Center, which is run by Sacred Heart Medical Center, according to health department records.

Nancy R. Boughter, 21, was fired from St. Brendan’s after an internal investigation concluded only she consistently had access to areas where thefts occurred, records show.

Boughter, 21, said Thursday she is innocent and didn’t know the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Division had filed the unprofessional conduct charge against her.

“I wasn’t there at all those times” when thefts occurred, said Boughter, who worked at St. Brendan’s for about a year.

Boughter will get a chance to challenge the state allegations. Depending on the outcome of a hearing, her state certification to practice as a nursing assistant could be suspended or revoked.

No criminal charges have been filed in the nursing home thefts.

Spokane County court records show Boughter twice was convicted of theft. In August, she pleaded guilty to third-degree theft after trying to steal clothes from Shopko on East Sprague.

In July 1994, Boughter pleaded guilty to taking a jacket from a Goodwill store. A third theft charge, involving a Lamonts store, was dismissed in 1993.

Nancy Stewart, administrator at St. Brendan’s, said theft in the nursing home is rare.

“We try to safeguard residents’ belongings as much as we can,” Stewart said, noting the home provides locked storage spaces and trust funds where residents can keep money.

“We really encourage them, if it’s extremely valuable, to please not bring it in,” she said.

, DataTimes