A nurse attorney is someone who can help if someone filed a case against you. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that an RN committed in July 2019 was one of those examples.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse (RN) at a hospital in Midland, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) months.
It was on or about July 22, 2019, when an RN failed to obtain a lab specimen for a PTT for a Patient, as ordered by the physician. As a result, the patient received an entire 500ml bag of Heparin and the PTT result returned as “no value” indicating no clotting. The RN’s conduct unnecessarily exposed the patient to a risk of harm from complications associated with heparin overdose.
And on or about September 13, 2019, the RN removed one (1) Morphine Solution 10mg cup, one (1) Hydrocodone 5/325mg tablet, two (2) Oxycodone 5/325mg tablets, and two (2) Hydromorphone Img/ml syringes from the medication dispensing system for four Patients, but failed to document, or accurately and completely document, the administration of the medications in the patients’ medication administration records (MARs) and/or nurse’s notes. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patients in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patients, which could result in an overdose. Additionally, the RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Then on or about September 13, 2019, the RN removed one (1) Morphine Solution 10mg cup, one (1) Hydrocodone 5/325mg tablet, two (2) Oxycodone 5/325mg tablets, and two (2) Hydromorphone 1 mg/ml syringes from the medication dispensing system for four Patient, but failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedure for wastage of the unused portions of the medications. The RN’s conduct left medications unaccounted for, was likely to deceive the hospital pharmacy, and placed the pharmacy in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response, regarding the heparin, the RN admits there was a heparin lab that was due and she did miss it by accident. Regarding the documentation and wastage of narcotics, the RN states she has always done her six checks before administering medications. The RN adds that in order to give the medications, the patient’s bracelet needs to be scanned and then the medication is scanned.
The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction over all cases that may affect the RN license. The strictness of the Board also ensures that nurses will only commit to the duties they are assigned to in order to guarantee accurate and excellent performance in all hospitals throughout the state of Texas.
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing decided to sentence her RN license to disciplinary action to ensure that she will never commit such acts again.
The case would have yielded a different result if the RN was able to hire a nurse attorney. So if you also have the same cases or concerns, it’s best to contact Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, for further details. You may contact him at (832) 428-5679 to get a schedule for a confidential consultation.