Accurate medication administration and documentation are critical components of nursing practice to ensure patient safety and the continuity of care. Nurses are entrusted with the responsibility of not only administering the right medication but also diligently recording its administration to maintain a comprehensive and accurate medical record. However, instances where medication administration is not appropriately documented can raise concerns about patient well-being, adherence to professional standards, and transparency in nursing practice. When confronted with issues related to medication administration and documentation, seeking legal guidance can be pivotal in addressing the matter effectively. A nurse attorney can provide valuable assistance in ensuring a thorough examination of the circumstances, safeguarding the nurse’s rights.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Bryan, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about April 8, 2020, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Bryan, Texas, RN withdrew one (1) Apixaban 2.5 MG Tab from the medication dispensing system for a patient, but failed to document, and/or completely and accurately document the administration of the medication in the patient’s medication administration records (MARs) and/or nurse’s notes. RN’s conduct could have injured the patient, in that subsequent care givers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patient which could result in an overdose.
In response, RN denies intentional negligence in documentation and administration of medication. RN states she does not recall the specific documentation or medication management errors during the dates in question, however, she acknowledges that she did not always manage medications according to protocol and that she made some errors in documentation. RN states she had limited orientation at the facility and struggled trying to figure out the system. RN informs she never used the Electronic Medical Record (Protouch) and did not have adequate training on the system. Further, RN reports the hospital was understaffed and lacking in COVID-19 virus containment.
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) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(B)&(1)(C).
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN and his license into disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled Texas Nurse Attorney, had the RN hired one. Hiring a Texas Nurse Attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced Texas Nurse Attorneys, Yong J. An. He is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.