Any charges filed against an RN or an LVN could badly affect their license and their career as a nurse. This is why a nurse should never neglect the need to hire a nurse attorney for defense when such a circumstance happens.
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 March 28, 2019, through March 29, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the said RN failed to appropriately reassess and intervene; including testing blood glucose levels and vital signs at the intervals ordered by the physician, for the patient, who was experiencing declining blood pressures and hypoglycemia during the shift. Additionally, the RN failed to administer dextrose to the patient as ordered, and also failed to notify the physician or initiate the Rapid Response Team when the blood glucose level fell to 53mg/dl. Although the RN initiated a Code Blue for the patient five and one half (5 1/2) hours later, at the end of her shift, the patient was ultimately pronounced deceased from complications resulting from a perforated gastric ulcer. The conduct of the RN was likely to injure the patient from a lack of appropriate nursing and medical care and may have contributed to the patient’s demise.
It was on or about March 28, 2019, through March 29, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN failed accurately and completely report and document events during the shift related to Patient JC; including, physical assessment, administration of intravenous medications, vital sign measurements, and the patient’s response to low blood glucose levels and hypotension. The RN’s conduct created an incomplete 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.
In terms of the incident that occurred, according to the RN, the unlicensed patient care technician’s role was to check vital signs and glucose levels as ordered and report any abnormal findings to the nurse caring for the patient, but she never notified the RN that any of the vital signs or glucose levels obtained from the patient were abnormal. In addition, the RN further states that she did assist the patient in suctioning at one point during the shift and, at that time, the IV pump was on and infusing. The RN also stated that each time she passed the room she would look in to check on the patient and that she did not want to awaken the patient any more than necessary.
As a result, her RN license was disciplined and suspended by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). She did not have an experienced attorney to fully defend her case led to this decision by the Texas BON. And then decided to voluntarily surrender her license.
You should have to be wise in dealing with any case and hire a nurse attorney for help to avoid decisions that you will surely regret later on.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for nurse attorney Yong.