Failure to reconcile prescribed medications to a patient can cause great harm not only to the patient but also to the nurses and physicians assigned to take care of the particular patient. It is therefore crucial to hire a nurse attorney to help defend your case when accused of this scenario. Such allegations happened to a particular RN from Texarkana, Texas.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a medical facility in Texarkana, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years and eight (8) months.
On or about September 9, 2020, while employed as an RN at a medical facility in Texarkana, Texas, RN was accused of the following:
- RN failed to administer a Lactulose enema to a patient, who had liver cirrhosis, at 0700 as ordered by the provider at 0601. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from complications ineffective treatment of cirrhosis including a decline in brain function and altered level of consciousness.
- RN failed to timely intervene when the aforementioned patient had expiratory wheezing at 0800 and inability to take medications due to altered mental status and agitation at 0900. Instead, RN waited until 0945 to start attempting to contact the patient’s providers. Subsequently, the patient experienced respiratory distress with oxygen saturation of 88% at 1050 and required intubation with mechanical ventilation. RN’s conduct deprived the providers of timely information and was likely to injure the patient from delayed onset of needed medical interventions.
In response, RN states she did not give lactulose enema until she could confer with the physician because the most recent ammonia result was within normal range, and she had difficulty obtaining the patient’s cooperation. Furthermore, RN states on initial assessment the patient had mild wheezing and confusion but was not in distress. Later, when the patient was unable to follow commands and/or take oral medications, RN states she started attempting to contact providers for orders and/or evaluation at 0929. RN states a Code Save was called at 1042 when the patient experienced an acute change in condition including respiratory distress and low oxygen saturation.
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)(D),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(3)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(4).
Unfortunately, the Texas Board of Nursing found her guilty of her deeds. Her RN license was subjected to disciplinary action. She did not hire a skilled Texas BON attorney to fully defend her case which led to this decision by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years.