Tri-Cities school nurse charged with unprofessional conduct on the job

A former elementary school nurse for the Pasco School District has been charged with unprofessional conduct by the Washington state Department of Health.

On June 14, 2021, school staff reported that registered nurse Kelly Marie Martin appeared to be impaired on the job at Franklin STEM Elementary School, according to a state document.

Her speech was slurred, she was staggering and was having difficulty filling out forms, according to the Department of Health.

She was required to submit to a drug test, which came back positive for amphetamine and benzodiazepine, both of which she were prescribed to her.

Amphetamine can be prescribed for conditions that include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, and benzodiazepine are most commonly prescribed for anxiety, but also have other uses.

In addition to being accused of unprofessional conduct, she also is accused of violating Washington state standards of nursing conduct.

Martin has the right to defend against the charges.

According to Pasco school officials, she resigned at the end of the 2021 school year. She had worked for the district since October 2017.