For complaints regarding use of substances or drugs, a Houston nurse lawyer is the one to contact. However, many failed to do so, resulting in suspension or revocation of their license. Just like what happened to an RN in Houston. Read below to know her story.
On or about January 10, 2018, while employed as a PCU Staff Nurse in a hospital in Houston, the RN failed to document a complete assessment of the abdomen, including abdominal description and palpation, of a patient, who was hospitalized in connection with surgery to repair a colovesicular fistula with sigmoid colectomy and ileostomy, and was experiencing an ileus.
Her conduct was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent care givers would not have accurate and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
On the same day, the RN failed to recognize the deteriorating condition of the patient and thus failed to collaborate with other members of the patient‘s healthcare team to implement appropriate interventions to stabilize the patient, despite evidence of increased pain, increased heart rate, increased drain output with color change, and receipt of numerous STAT orders from the physician. Furthermore, she failed to report an elevated potassium level of 5.9 to the physician despite the receipt and acknowledgement of STAT laboratory orders and the aforementioned patient‘s continued receipt of intravenous fluids that contained potassium.
Subsequently, the patient died later in the day of septic shock. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that caregivers would not have current and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care. Moreover, her conduct may have contributed to the patient’s demise.
On or about February 25, 2018, the same RN failed to document contact with the physician regarding the decreasing blood pressure and heart rate for a patient, and failed to clarify and document clarification of medication orders for administration of Lasix and amiodarone with the physician in light of the patient‘s decreasing blood pressure and heart rate.
Additionally, the RN failed to obtain and document the patient‘s blood pressure and heart rate prior to the administration of amiodarone and one hour after the administration of amiodarone, and failed to notify the physician that she called for rapid response team assistance in response to the patient‘s low blood pressure and heart rate. Her conduct was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend her side.
In response to the incidents, the RN disputes that there was failure to recognize a declining condition as during her shift the patient was alert, speaking coherently, and had an appropriate response to pain. The RN states that the patient’s oxygen saturation was within normal limits, at approximately 94%, throughout the time period that she cared for the patient. The RN states that the patient’s vital signs remained stable throughout her shift.
She states that her notes indicate that at 09:00, the drainage in the drain was seriously clear, approximately 50 ml. At 10:00, she states she recompressed the drain and there was no drainage present.
She states she noted the drainage in the patient‘s drain was scant at 11:25. She states that the patient was connected to life systems monitors that were audible and viewable from the patient‘s bedside and central nursing station. She states that at no time did she hear or see any alarms sounding that indicated a change in the patient‘s condition or vital signs, nor did she receive any notification from the monitor room.
Furthermore, multiple staff members, including the charge nurse, certified nursing assistant, respiratory therapist, and the patient‘s physician, had contact with the patient; however, none of the staff members that interacted with the patient brought any concerns of a decline in the patient’s condition to her with any sense of urgency. She states that there were multiple systemic failures made by the facility in the delay of treatment provided to the patient, failures of which were outside of her control.
However, without the valid reason and defense to properly explain the RN’s side, the RN was disciplined and suspended by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Because of this incident, the Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN’s license into disciplinary action.
The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled Houston nurse lawyer had the RN hired one. Hiring a Houston nurse lawyer for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced Houston nurse lawyer, Yong J. An. He has assisted numerous nursing license cases since 2006. You may contact him by dialing (832)-428-567 if you wish to learn more information should you undergo accusations or any other case that may affect your license.