Assault and other criminal offenses can end your nursing career. This is why nurses should be careful and avoid committing criminal offenses to prevent the worst to happen on their nursing license. But if such circumstances happen, be wise enough to have and hire a nurse attorney for help on your case.
At the time of the incident, an LVN who was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in Carrollton, Texas, had engaged in unprofessional conduct by committing an assault and battery against another nurse on February 3, 2015, while they were both employed at the same hospital. The victim of the assault was the hospital’s union shop steward. The LVN was presented to a nearby lab for drug and alcohol screening after the LVN’s supervisors observed the LVN behaving unusually at work, “repeatedly opening cabinet drawers when asked to stop and verbalizing nonsensical words and phrases.
The LVN initially consented to be tested and let the nurse drive her to the testing facility. However, once inside the testing facility, the LVN surprisingly grabbed the car key of the nurse’s vehicle and tried to leave. When the nurse attempted to recover her car key, the LVN threw her arm around the neck of the nurse and placed the victim in a ‘headlock’ and then the LVN used her other hand to cover the mouth of the nurse to silence the victim’s screams and cries for help. Two male bystanders intervened to try to pull the LVN off of the nurse, and one of them began to punch the LVN’s arm to get her to release the nurse. Police were called and they placed LVN under arrest.
The LVN was transported to another testing facility for alcohol and drug screening, and she tested negative for illicit drugs or alcohol. The criminal charges against the LVN were dropped after she completed treatments ordered by the Mental Health Court. The LVN was terminated from her position at the hospital effective February 9, 2015, for violating the hospital’s Workplace Violence Policy.
In response, the LVN’s assault caused permanent injury to the nurse’s cervical spine. Despite three surgical procedures, the nurse continued to experience chronic neck pain and a limited range of motion. The nurse suffered permanent disabilities and was never able to return to full-time work as an LVN following the assault.
The LVN’s unprofessional conduct resulted in the revocation of his nursing license. This really had to happen as the LVN never had someone to help him during the hearing. When an RN/LVN has to deal with criminal charges should need a nurse attorney for the defense and for guidance.
Having a nurse attorney around during the trial of your case can change the outcome of the case you are dealing with. So, if ever you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.