The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN and LVN in Texas. It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the state of Texas. Any RN or LVN who is guilty of violating state laws and issuances from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) may be subjected to penalties or fines if not properly defended by a nurse attorney. As a matter of fact, the RN license and LVN license can even be suspended or revoked.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Dallas and had been in that position for eleven months.
On or about January 15, 2019, a patient transferred to the ICU for a higher level of care as a result of septic shock/hypoxia, the RN failed to validate the patient’s vital signs in order to preserve them in the patient’s medical record; instead, the patient’s vital signs were validated by the leadership team.
The RN’s conduct could have resulted in an incomplete medical record, and could have contributed to the injury to the patient in that subsequent caregivers did not have accurate and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
Subsequently, the RN failed to adjust the rate of norepinephrine being administered to the patient in order to keep the patient’s mean arterial pressure above 65, as ordered.
The RN’s conduct could have contributed to the injury to the patient in that failure to administer medications as ordered could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
During the hearing, the RN states that she takes accountability for not charting the norepinephrine titration and not validating q15 minute vitals. She states that one reason for not validating the vital signs was due to her concerns that many blood pressure readings were not accurate due to the inability to keep the patient’s blood pressure cuff in place as a result of the patient’s combativeness and the discomfort the patient experienced when the blood pressure was taken.
The RN states she was constantly in the patient’s room to monitor and assess the patient, including assessing the patient’s vital signs and oxygen saturation levels. In response to the other allegation, the RN states that she called the physician to the bedside because the patient was unstable with tachycardia, low pressure, and needed an arterial line and a central line. When the physician was at the bedside, she states that she insisted that the physician place an arterial line to get an accurate blood pressure reading and place a central line to run the norepinephrine.
The RN states that the physician was hesitant about starting any immediate interventions because the patient was combative and the physician wanted her to wean down the norepinephrine. The physician placed orders for an electrocardiogram and a fluid bolus. She states that the patient did not respond to the fluid bolus and she again called the physician asking why she wanted to wean the norepinephrine drip and her response changed to the family not wanting any lines placed at this time. The physician stated that she would like to have the norepinephrine drip off, so the RN states she asked her to discontinue the medication order and write orders for blood pressure parameters. She states that the physician wrote an order for blood pressure parameters of MAPs above 50 and to notify him otherwise.
However, without valid evidence and an expert nurse attorney to defend her, the RN was disciplined. This is just one of the many causes why every nurse in Texas is expected to act with prudence in practicing the profession. Any form of gross negligence, disobedience, or any form of offense on the part of an RN or LVN is never excused.
Any case can be defended, as long as there is a skilled nurse attorney ready to assist you during the hearing before the Board of Nursing. The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction regarding cases that may affect an RN or LVN’s license from suspension, disciplinary action, or revocation.
The LVN lost the case simply because she failed to find an effective and efficient nurse attorney. Avoid committing the same mistake she did. Find the right nurse attorney in Texas to help you with your needs. Contact nurse attorney Yong J. An directly by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 for a discreet consultation.