Every practicing RN in the state of Texas is required to follow certain rules and regulations imposed by the government. These laws and statutes were implemented to ensure that the safety of the patients is protected by the state. The nursing profession is not an easy journey. An RN who commits any violation can place her RN license in jeopardy if not properly defended by a nurse attorney. The Texas Board of Nursing has the authority to revoke or suspend an RN license in the country for as long as there is a justifiable reason.
At the time of the incident, RN was employed as a Family Nurse Practitioner at a health care facility in Carrollton, Texas, and had been in that position for seven (7) months.
On or about September 14, 2017, while employed as a Family Nurse Practitioner at a health care facility in Carrollton, Texas, RN ordered medications for a patient, including depo medrol and naltrexone, without adequately documenting and justifying her medical rationale for doing so. The rationale for the medications ordered was alternative and complementary medicine and may not have comported with the rules designed to permit the patient’s choice to use alternative and complementary medicine. RN’s conduct resulted in an incomplete medical record and had the potential to expose the patient to the risk of harm.
In response, RN agrees her documentation is lacking. At the time, RN used a medical records scribe, and she did not adequately review the records documented by the scribe. RN writes her own records to ensure quality. RN states that patients have a right to utilize alternative and complementary forms of medicine, and RN’s supervising physician(s) supports the treatment with a scientific basis for the actions taken with patients. The failure to adequately document resulted in the perception of justification for the patient’s treatment.
The above action constitutes 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)(B)&(1)(D) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A).
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing decided to place her RN license under disciplinary action. It’s too bad that she failed to hire a nurse attorney for assistance, knowing that she had every reason to defend herself in the first place. Her defense would have gotten better if she sought legal consultation from a Texas nurse attorney as well.
So, if you’re facing a complaint from the Board, it’s best to seek legal advice first. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. He is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for 16 years and represented over 150 nurses before the Texas BON. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.
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