Two months of pill pilfering at Dunedin Hospital has seen a nurse lose her ability to work in the medical profession.

Codeine, tramadol and diazepam were the drugs of choice for Julie Powell - who stole 924 pills on the job.

Charged with professional misconduct, her nurse's registration will be cancelled and she must pay 16 thousand dollars in costs.

The ruling was made by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

Ms Powell now lives in the United Kingdom.