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We all expect nurses to bring the best quality of care to us, patients. And we sometimes complain if our expectations are not met. These complaints and accusations can cause them big time. It can cause their license to get suspended or get revoked. A Nurse can face a lot of accusations, allegation cases, or complaints cases and they will face the Texas Board of Nursing to formally follow procedures. But if a nurse is experiencing such circumstances, a nurse attorney can be their defense and can assist them in dealing with the cases they are facing.

At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Pearland, Texas, and had been in that position for six (6) years and seven (7) months.

On or about March 6, 2018, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that he reported to work exhibiting signs of impaired behavior, including appearing dazed, unable to make eye contact, slurred speech, falling asleep, unable to write legibly, and stumbling. The RN’s condition could have affected his ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in the patient’s condition, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.

And also the RN was engaged in the intemperate use of Opiates and Alcohol in that he produced a specimen for a reasonable suspicion drug screen that resulted positive for Opiates and an Alcohol level of 0.04 gm./ml. The use of opiates and alcohol by a nurse, while subject to call or duty, could impair the nurse’s ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in a patient’s condition, and could impair the nurse’s ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing a patient in potential danger.

Another incident happened on or about January 26, 2018, the RN failed to administer Acetaminophen Suppository to the patient as ordered by a physician. More specifically, The RN self-reported the wrong route of administration of a suppository. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the resident in that failure to administer the medication as ordered by a physician could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.

In response, the RN states that he was medicated with cough syrup with codeine and Phenergan, which was prescribed by his Physician’s Assistant. The RN states he was sick at the time with the flu and pneumonia and he tried to call in but the house supervisor said to call the charge nurse. He states that the charge nurse did not answer and states the hospital had a zero-tolerance call in the policy. And also states that he went to work and asked to go home, but was told no, and was floated to a different surgical area on short notice. The RN states the opiate was prescribed medication. He states the codeine in the cough syrup and Vicoprofen for pain, stating both were prescribed to him. And that on March 5, 2018, he had a few drinks with his friends for his birthday. He states it was slow to break down because he had compromised liver function. The RN states this is the only positive drug screen ‘in 23 years of nursing, the RN states the wrong medication route was never confirmed. He states the Anesthesiologist, CRNA told him to give the medication. He states the patient was covered in clothes, so he started at the small of the back and worked his way to the anus. The RN states something felt abnormal to him and he was told to leave it and she would get the fit. The RN stated the PACU Nurse said there was white cream on the buttocks area. And lastly, states that he self-reported and he had a clean UDS.

Formal Charges were filed against the RN. As a conclusion to the above incidents and as to the Board who receives all the information needed for the RN’s case. The information received has produced evidence against the RN. The Texas Board of Nursing has subjected the RN to take disciplinary action and has put to suspension.

The decision of the Board can result differently if only the RN had hired a nurse attorney who can defend him. And that someone is a nurse attorney who has many years of experience handling nurse cases.

Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.