Nursing assessment skills is one of the nurse’s most valuable assets. This is the main reason why whenever someone filed a complaint against you involving negligence and medical malpractice, your license could be put in danger if not defended by a nurse attorney.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Waco, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) year and five (5) months.
On or about August 30, 2020, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Waco, Texas, RN failed to intervene and/or call a Code Stroke when a patient was noted to have stroke symptoms during RN’s shift. Specifically, RN assessed the patient and documented that the patient had slurred speech/dysarthria at 0750, and limited movement of her left upper extremity. Additionally, RN failed to correctly document the patient’s condition in the medical record, in that she documented that the patient’s neurological and musculoskeletal systems were within defined limits. Subsequently, when the physician rounded on the patient two hours later, it was determined that the patient was past the timeframe for Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) medications, and she was diagnosed with a stroke. The patient suffered left sided deficits related to the stroke. RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and exposed the patient to a risk of harm from a delay in treatment.
In response, RN states that while doing her assessment on the patient, she noted that the patient was alert and oriented times four. RN states that while doing her assessment and giving the patient her medications, she held a conversation with the patient and the patient never mentioned that she had any change in status or was not able to use her left side. RN states that when she received a report from the off going nurse, they did not wake the patient, and she was told in report that the patient was alert and oriented. RN states that when the charge nurse assessed the patient, she stated that the patient wasn’t like this previously. RN states that they returned to the patient’s room with the doctor asked about calling a Code Stroke. RN states that the charge nurse told him that they could not call the Code Stroke because they did not know the timeline of the change in condition. RN states that the doctor ordered everything that was included in a Code Stroke. RN states that the charting that day was a mistake due to have to chart quickly later due to being busy in the morning.
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),(1)(D),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(3)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12.(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(4).
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend her side, but the RN failed to hire a nurse attorney to help her with her case and without proper defense, the Texas Board of Nursing then decided to place her RN license under disciplinary action.
If you also received a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing regarding a case or complaint filed on you, you should hire a nurse attorney immediately before it’s too late. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse attorneys who helped represent more than 300 nurse cases for the past 16 years. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation regarding any accusations from the Texas BON.