A nurse at UPMC Cranberry Place has been accused of using a drug prescribed to her patient and replacing it with saline solution, according to charges filed last month.

Lorrie J. Jelic, 53, of Butler, was charged by the state Attorney General’s Office on Nov. 23 with felony acquisition of a controlled substance and misdemeanor fraud following an investigation at her workplace.

According to charging documents, UPMC fraud investigations said an event was reported where a patient was not provided with a dose of lorazepam, or benzodiazepine, on March 31. The medication is used for anxiety, sedation, muscle spasm relief and to reduce seizures.

A medication withdraw sheet showed that the controlled substance was taken by Jelic for the specified patient that day, investigators said.

On April 9, Jelic was observed nodding off at work. The next day, a bottle of prescribed liquid benzodiazepine was leaking in a refrigerator at Cranberry Place. The substance seemed to be tampered with and was to be administered to a different patient. Documents show Jelic was found to have withdrawn the medication and administered it on April 7.

Jelic admitted to a supervisor that she took 3 milliliters of the liquid benzodiazepine for a patient and replaced it with saline. Investigators also said they believed she took a tablet of lorazepam.

Jelic was interviewed by investigators in July, during which time her doctor had stopped prescribing her benzodiazepine. She had been taking it since the age of 19. Jelic told investigators she did provide her March 31 patient with medication due to their medical conditions.

According to court documents, Jelic was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Friday, Dec. 16.