Fitness to practice is all about the qualities and capabilities of an individual to practice as a Registered Nurse, and also the ability to meet the professional standards of being a Registered Nurse. The Board may require tests for physical or mental health to see if an RN is really fit to practice professional nursing. A nurse attorney on the other hand can help you go through accusations of being unfit to practice.
An incident happened on or about June 14, 2019, while an RN was employed at a hospital in Dallas, Texas, and had been in that position for eleven (11) years and one (1) month. The RN left his nursing assignment for about two (2) hours and lacked the fitness to practice professional nursing, in that he was located sleeping in his truck during his shift. Additionally, the RN was observed acting confused about what he was doing. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure patients in that leaving the nursing assignment could have resulted in the patients not getting the care that they needed. Also could have affected his ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in patient’s conditions, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
Another incident happened on or about June 14, 2019, the RN failed to assess and document nursing care provided to patients. His conduct was likely to deprive the patients of detection and timely medical interventions in the event the patients experienced a change in condition. Additionally, the RN was likely to injure the patients in that subsequent caregivers would rely on his documentation to provide ongoing medical care.
In response to the incident, the RN states, “I was very exhausted and not feeling very well. I sat in the backseat of my truck with the door open. I subsequently ended up dosing off. The admit clerk found me there with my door open sitting in the backseat of my truck. I then returned to the emergency department and resumed my nursing duties. At no time was there any complaint of myself seeming confused. This was an unfortunate event that I deeply regret but unfortunately cannot change. “
As a result, the RN’s inappropriate behavior during his nursing assignment put her into disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nursing. He failed to hire Texas BON lawyers to fully defend his case and have led to this decision by Board. Hiring a nurse attorney could have led to a different outcome.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.