Being involved in any misconduct or even being accused of doing such can greatly affect your career as an RN and especially your RN license will also at stake. But if you are facing such difficulty, always remember that a nurse attorney is the one who can help you defend your side of the case.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Nacogdoches, Texas, and had been in that position for six (6) months.
On or about June 8, 2020, and June 17, 2020, and July 8, 2020, the RN failed to comply with the Agreed Order issued to the RN on September 10, 2019, by the Texas Board of Nursing. Noncompliance is the result of The RN’s failure to comply with Section IV, “DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED REQUIREMENTS,” Part A and B, of the Agreed Order which states: “PETITIONER SHALL CAUSE abstain from the use of alcohol, tramadol, and all controlled substances, except as prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a legitimate purpose.” On or about June 8, 2020, June 17, 2020, and July 8, 2020, the RN tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide (Alcohol) and Ethyl Sulfate.
On or about August 10, 2020, the RN submitted a letter of recommendation to the Texas Board of Nursing in response to an investigation. A witness confirmed that she did not write, sign, or initial a letter of recommendation for the RN or give the RN permission to do so on her behalf. The RN’s conduct provided false and misleading information that could reasonably affect a decision regarding her license(s).
In response, the RN states that her employer’s laboratory at the Hospital improperly collected all of the allegedly positive specimens and did not follow the appropriate chain of custody. Chain of custody was confirmed, by the hospital’s CEO and Director of Infection, to not have been followed on at least one occasion. The RN believes the lab technician held a personal grudge against her and purposefully mixed up her specimens on more than one occasion. In addition, the RN states that she discussed the letter of recommendation with the witness who agreed that the RN could draft the letter and initial it on her behalf for submission to the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). The RN denies drinking alcohol while under the terms of September 10, 2019, Agreed Order. The RN submitted a hair follicle test collected on July 20, 2020, that resulted negative for Ethyl Glucuronide (Alcohol). The RN’s coworkers also wrote letters indicating that she never appeared. intoxicated while at work.
But due to what had happened, the Board, therefore, decided to put the RN into discipline. Putting the RN into disciplinary proceedings will ensure that she will perform even better in the future or will do the right things.
If you’re facing cases such as this, be sure to hire a nurse attorney who can fully assist you. Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for more than 14 years. To contact him for inquiries or to schedule a confidential consultation, dial (832) 428-5679 to proceed.