Every person who wants to become a professional LVN or RN in the state of Texas needs to go through several processes. This is the main reason why you should be careful when doing your job, or else, complaints or charges might be filed against you. Without the help of a nurse attorney, you might get suspended by the Texas Board of Nursing.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a health facility in Pharr, Texas, and had been in that position for sixteen (16) years and nine (9) months.
On or about December 27, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN failed to properly document the removal from the pharmacy’s automated dispensing system of two (2) 5/325mg tablets of Norco for the Patient. Additionally, the RN failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedures for return and/or wastage of the unused portions of the medication. Instead, the RN administered one (1) tablet to the patient and later discarded the other tablet in a sharps container. Furthermore, the RN failed to completely and accurately document the efficacy of the pain medication that was administered to the patient. The RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have accurate and complete information on which to base their care decisions. The conduct of the RN also left medications unaccounted for and placed the pharmacy in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the incident that happened, according to the RN, the 2 Norco tablets came out of the Pyxis and she could not return the extra pill. She took the 2 tablets and administered the one to her patient, and administered an IV, and the extra pill inadvertently went into the trash/sharps container with the IV trash. She immediately reported the incident to the pharmacy and to the charge nurse, who went with her to the Pyxis and noted that the Pyxis did not register any miscount, and the Charge nurse said that there was nothing she could do since the Pyxis did not register the error.
The Texas Board of Nursing has jurisdiction over all cases that may affect the license and career of an RN or LVN. Therefore, based on the findings of the Board, the RN received disciplinary action to ensure further safety and accurate documentation as she works in the future. She should have hired a nurse attorney for instances such as this.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced nurse attorneys in Texas, Nurse Attorney 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.