Nursing assistant steals from Tri-Cities patient. Her state credential is suspended

The state credential of registered nursing assistant Lyndsay Nicole Lapierre has been suspended for at least three years after she was convicted of theft for using a patient’s benefit card.

The Washington state Department of Health announced the suspension this week, after it was signed in November.

Before Lapierre can petition for reinstatement of her credential after three years, she must pay a fine of $250 and complete six hours of continuing education in theft awareness and law and ethics.

In February 2018 Lapierre used the electronic benefit transfer card of a client to buy herself food in Kennewick on two days.

The theft was discovered because the patient was at Eastern State Hospital in Spokane County on those days and could not have made the purchases.

Lapierre pleaded guilty in December 2018 in Benton County to second-degree theft and was convicted.