Malpractices have been a signature specialty of a Houston RN Lawyer when handling cases for some nurses. However, some nurses tend to forget this fact because they really felt like they should be responsible even if they never intended to commit such an error.
One such incident occurred on or about January 4, 2017 to an RN in Houston, Texas. Before the initial time of the incident, she was employed in a medical facility in Houston and had been in that position for more than one year.
On or about January 4, 2017, while employed in a residential behavioral health facility in Houston, the RN failed to appropriately and timely assess and intervene when a patient sustained an injury to her left arm during a psychotic episode. The patient complained of arm pain, saying that she thought her arm was broken, so the RN was called to assess the client.
The RN assessed the patient’s arm, then referred the client to the RN, the supervising nurse.
Although the client’s forearm was irregular in appearance, the RN made an evaluation that the client was experiencing a muscle spasm and instructed the RN to apply heat to the arm and to administer medication for psychosis, instead of consulting with the physician. The following day, the client had limited range of motion to the left arm and complained of pain. The therapist voiced concern to the RN regarding the client’s arm and the RN told her that she was not the nurse on the unit that day, that she should have the client see the RN.
The RN informed the RN on duty that the client had a syndrome that causes muscle spasms and cramps and that the client was to be monitored only, x-rays were not needed. The client continued to exhibit pain and was eventually taken to visit the physician on January 9, 2017. X-rays revealed that the client had sustained a displaced fracture of her left arm, which required surgical repair.
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her RN license to disciplinary action. It’s too bad that she failed to hire a Houston RN Lawyer for assistance, knowing that she had every reason to defend herself in the first place. Her defense would have gotten better if she actually sought legal consultation from a Houston RN Lawyer as well.
So if you’re facing a complaint from the Board, it’s best to seek legal advice first. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.