A NURSE who stole medication from an emergency ward and broke into her former sister-in-law's home could be struck off. 

Sarah McQuistan accepts that she pilfered lorazepam from her employers at Furness General Hospital in Barrow. 

An investigation at the hospital revealed a significant amount of drugs had been removed at times when McQuistan was on shift, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard. 

The nurse also admitted she had  received a caution for stealing more than £500-worth of jewellery from the home of her former sister-in-law six months later. 

Douglas Lloyd, for the NMC, told the panel that in March 2014 an investigation had been launched at the hospital into the taking of medication from the emergency department. 

Mr Lloyd said: "A disproportionate amount of medication had been removed. The trust looked at all members of staff and discovered that the increased removal of drugs was significantly higher when the registrant was on duty." 

McQuistan was suspended by the trust on March 29, 2014 as the investigation was carried out. 

Mr Lloyd added: "The registrant was subsequently interviewed on May 9, 2014 and during that interview the registrant admitted that she had taken medication. 

"She told the investigating officer that she had taken about seven lorazepam tablets for her own use." 

McQuistan was unable to account for other missing medication and Mr Lloyd conceded he had no further information as the hospital Mediwell recording system had not been working properly. 

He added: "While the records indicate that drugs were missing, there is in fact no direct evidence of the registrant stealing the medication." 

Six months later McQuistan was interviewed at Barrow Police Station about a house burglary, the hearing was told. 

Mr Lloyd said: "At some point from the end of October to the start of November 2014 the registrant stole jewellery to the value of approximately £570 from her ex-sister-in-law's home. 

"The registrant was allowed access to the home but not to the bedrooms and it is from one of the bedrooms from which the items were stolen. 

"Some of the jewellery was returned and I am informed that some of the jewellery was sold. The registrant had admitted the offence of burglary and was given a caution for that offence." 

McQuistan, who was present and representing herself at the hearing, has admitted the allegations against her in full.

McQuistan admitted she sold a ring she stole from her ex-sister-in-law's home to a secondhand shop. 

The nurse said: "I was not thinking straight at the time - it was in my pocket when I was up town and I just thought I needed to get rid of it. 

"I was distraught when I had done it when I was in my right mind again. Going forward I deeply regret what I have done." 

McQuistan, who is working as a part-time carer, confirmed that all the other items had swiftly been returned to their rightful owner. 

The nurse also agreed it was easier for her to have taken the medication from the hospital due to the Mediwell system in place. 

McQuistan told the panel that the only drugs she took from the hospital were for her own personal use and she had never taken any for anyone else. 

Mr Lloyd said: "You did not take any action to ensure what you had taken had been replaced." 

McQuistan, from Barrow and thought to be 34, claimed that she had been keeping up with nursing practices through reading Nursing Standard. 

But when quizzed about any articles she had read recently she admitted that it had been some months since she had read the magazine. 

The hearing continues.