The administration of medications in a healthcare setting is a crucial responsibility entrusted to nurses, demanding the utmost attention to detail and precision to ensure patient safety and optimal care. Inaccuracies in medication administration can have severe consequences for patients and may raise concerns about the nurse’s competence and adherence to established protocols. In such instances, nurses find themselves facing significant challenges and the potential for legal implications. When nurses encounter allegations or legal concerns related to medication errors and deviations from established protocols, a nurse attorney can provide indispensable support and guidance. They contribute to accountability within the healthcare profession while safeguarding the nurse’s rights and professional reputation.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about November 11, 2021, while employed as an RN at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas, RN incorrectly co-signed epidural medication administration to Patient A. RN and the oncoming shift could not scan the medication bag, and bypassed error messages to manually input the name of the medication they thought they were administering. Subsequently, the next shift found that the patient was receiving an antibiotic medication through the epidural pump that was ordered for a different patient, instead of the anesthetic medication that was ordered for Patient A. RN’s conduct exposed the patient to a risk of harm from administration of antibiotic medication without physician orders and by the wrong route.
In response to the above incident, RN states that the administration of the medication occurred at shift change. RN states that she gave a report to the oncoming nurse, who then pulled the medication to administer. RN states that this was an unintentional and isolated incident, and the error was caught by another nurse. RN adds that the physician was notified but no interventional instructions were provided given that there was no harm to the patient.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(1)(M) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN’s license to disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled nurse attorney, had the RN hired one. Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
Always remember that anyone can file a complaint against an RN/LVN with the state board for any reason. When this happens, all complaints need to be taken seriously no matter how trivial or unfounded they may appear. A nurse attorney is someone who can help you defend your license when the state board summons you. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN license attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 17 years and represented over 500 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679.