An experienced nurse attorney has surely helped a lot of RNs and LVNs when it comes to cases that may lead toward disciplinary action. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that an RN committed was one of those examples.
At the time of the incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Pasadena, Texas, and had been in that position for twelve (12) years and six (6) months.
It was on or about March 29, 2019, the RN put hot water in a glove and placed it on a patient’s arm in an effort to alleviate the pain in the patient’s arm. Further, the RN wrapped the patient’s arm and the glove with a pillowcase. Subsequently, the glove broke and the hot water spilled onto the patient’s left arm and left breast. As a result, the patient sustained 1″ and 2‘ᵈ degree burns. The RN’s conduct exposed the patient unnecessarily to a risk of harm in that the patient sustained bums.
On or About March 29, 2019, the RN falsely documented the nurse’s notes for a patient in that The RN said she placed a heating pad on the patient and the patient spilled hot water on herself. However, when confronted, the RN admitted to the Director and the Nurse Manager that she placed a glove filled with Hot water on the patient’s arm and it broke. Further, the RN told the Director and Nurse Manager what she did was “stupid” and she apologized. The RN’s conduct was deceptive and created an inaccurate medical record.
In regards to the incident above, the RN admits and takes full responsibility for her actions. The RN states the patient complained of pain at the IV site so she put hot water in a glove, wrapped it with a pillowcase, and applied it to the site of the IV. The RN states she thought this would be a fast way to relieve the pain, but it was a mistake. Respondent states the glove broke and the water spilled and injured the patient. Respondent states she immediately informed the doctor on duty and the doctor instructed her to apply Silvadene to the site of the injury.
The following incident and defense against the case caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the RN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. She would have sought assistance from a good nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors or misdemeanors during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for 14 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.