The safety and well-being of patients under the care of nurses is a paramount concern in healthcare, with the duty to provide safe and competent care resting squarely on the shoulders of nursing professionals. Nurses are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that patient care activities, such as bathing, are performed safely and without harm. However, there are unfortunate incidents where deviations from these critical standards occur, potentially compromising patient safety and raising concerns about the nurse’s competence and adherence to established protocols. In cases where nurses face allegations or legal concerns related to patient harm and deviations from safe care practices, a nurse attorney can provide vital support and guidance. By offering guidance and support, nurse attorneys contribute to accountability within the healthcare profession while safeguarding the nurse’s rights and professional reputation.
At the time of the initial incident, he was employed as an RN with a skilled nursing service provider in Odessa, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years.
On or about February 25, 2021, while employed as an RN with a skilled nursing service provider in Odessa, Texas, and assigned to provide skilled nursing care to a disabled patient, RN caused burns to his body including, but not limited to, his hands, feet, and hip, by bathing him in bathwater that was with an unsafe temperature. RN’s conduct was likely to cause emotional, physical, and/or psychological harm to the patient and could have interfered or disrupted this patient’s treatment.
In response, RN states on February 25, 2021, at about 8am, he arrived at the patient’s house. RN states he received the patient in a lying (Supine) position in his bed. RN states at about 12:45pm, the mother asked him to give the patient a shower which is usually part of his routine care to the patient on each visit. RN states before this day, he has always given the patient a shower on each of his previous visits. RN states at about 1:50pm, he turned the bathtub water on, checked the temperature of the water with the dorsal part of his right hand and it felt warm. RN states he assisted him to the bathroom, checked the water temperature with the dorsal part of his right hand and it felt warm before he immersed the patient into the warm water. RN states the patient sat inside the bathtub filled partially with water to his lower abdomen level throughout the duration of the bathing. RN states throughout the duration of the bathing session through dressing the patient with his clothes, the patient did not show any distress or discomfort or scream of pain or facial grimacing. RN states the patient can scream in distress or discomfort and never did he scream in pain or show any distress. RN states he did not observe or note or see any discoloration on his body or any blisters in his body.
The above action constitutes 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) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B), (4)&(6)(C).
However, without valid evidence to defend his side of the story, the RN lost the case. Furthermore, the RN failed to hire a Texas nurse attorney to help him with his case. Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined the RN’s license.
Do not be stressed or anxious if you find yourself in a similar situation as that of the RN mentioned above. All you need to do is to find the right RN/LVN license attorney who can help you in the case. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN/LVN 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.