Authorities are taking action against a UPMC Passavant nurse accused of using patients’ drugs on the job as a registered nurse in the emergency department.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office filed charges last week against Crystal L. Miller, 42, of Aliquippa, including one felony count of deceptive acquiring of a controlled substance and misdemeanor refusal to keep records.

Miller has yet to be arrested or arraigned on the charges, but will likely do so before her preliminary hearing July 8 before District Judge Kevin Flaherty.

Investigators said they began investigating after receiving a report from UPMC Passavant Cranberry officials about an incident April 6.

Investigators said Miller’s coworkers saw her acting strangely after discovering a mess in the staff bathroom.

“(A fellow nurse) had noted syringes and blood on the floor of the staff bathroom on April 6,” said investigators, citing the nurse’s statement. “(The coworker) wrote that Miller was so lethargic that she nearly fell off the chair she was sitting upon.”

Investigators said another nurse had talked with Miller, who admitted to using “waste narcotics” for months.

According to investigators, UPMC officials asked Miller to take lab tests, which showed fentanyl, hydromorphone and lorazepam in her system.

Investigators said one of the coworkers talked to one of Miller’s patients, who claimed they asked for pain medication but never received it.

Investigators said they later talked with Miller about the allegations, and she admitted to diverting the drugs for personal use from January to May.

“Miller stated she would take the waste narcotic,” investigators said. “Miller was able to circumvent policy by showing the observing nurse a syringe containing saline.”