The Washington State Department of Health has suspended the credentials of a former Bellevue nursing assistant following criminal convictions related to providing cannabis and tobacco to a minor patient. The disciplinary measures were finalized in an order issued in February 2026, originating from conduct during her tenure at THIRA Health LLC, a behavioral health facility, in May 2023.

Facility Conduct According to state records, the individual worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Nursing Assistant Registered at the Bellevue location between May 2 and May 12, 2023. During this brief employment period, she sent text messages to a minor patient she had met at the facility, indicating that she had purchased cannabis for the youth. The state’s investigation subsequently determined that she consumed both cannabis and nicotine with the minor patient directly on the premises of the THIRA Health facility.

Criminal Proceedings and License Surrender On June 30, 2023, the individual mailed a statement to the Department of Health attempting to submit a “resignation, withdrawal, and surrender” of her certified nursing license. In that same communication, she denied all the allegations against her. However, the legal system pursued the matter, resulting in criminal charges.

On March 11, 2024, in King County Superior Court, the defendant pled guilty to one count of Solicitation to Commit Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, a Class C Felony. She also pled guilty to one count of Selling or Giving Tobacco to a Minor, a gross misdemeanor.

State Sanctions and Corrective Actions The Department of Health determined that the actions constituted unprofessional conduct under multiple sections of state law, including the misuse of controlled substances and a criminal conviction relating to the practice of her profession.

Under the Stipulated Findings of Fact and Agreed Order, the credentials to practice as a nursing assistant-registered and nursing assistant-certified are formally suspended. The individual is barred from petitioning for the reinstatement of her credentials for a minimum of two years from the order’s effective date.

Before she is eligible to request reinstatement, the individual must meet several strict conditions:

  • She must pay a $500 fine to the Nursing Assistant Program.
  • She must contact the Washington Recovery and Monitoring Program to undergo an evaluation determining if she will be required to participate in their monitoring program.
  • She must successfully complete two specific modules—Boundaries and Unprofessional Conduct—through the Ethics and Boundaries Assessment Services examination.

If the individual eventually petitions for reinstatement, the disciplining authority retains the right to place additional terms and conditions on her credential, which could include probation, direct supervision, or restrictions on community-based employment.