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Sleeping while on your shift is the most common mistake an RN could make. The Texas Board of Nursing may find an RN lacked the fitness to practice because of this reason. Although there are other factors and aspects to look for if you are really a fit to practice nursing. If you are summoned by the Board, you need a nurse attorney to represent you in court.

At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at a hospital in Galveston, Texas, and had been in that position for sixteen (16) months.

On or about February 1, 2017, while employed as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that she was observed to be sleeping during a surgical procedure for a patient. The RN’s condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in the patient’s condition, and could have affected her ability to make rational accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding the patient’s care, thereby placing the patient in potential danger.

In response to the allegation outlined above, the RN states that she has never had an episode of falling asleep before or since in her career as either an RN for eight (8) years or as a CRNA for the past two (2). Additionally, the RN states that this event was due to her physician prescribing an increased dose of an anti-hypertensive medication two (2) days before the event and that although the increased dosage caused some drowsiness, she worked for two and one-half days on the increased dose without incident and did not reasonably believe the medication was going to result in her falling asleep. The RN also states that she stopped taking the increased dose after the date of the event, which resulted in an immediate end to any feeling of drowsiness, and that she has continued to work since (including the rest of the week of the event), without incident.

However, due to the lack of a nurse attorney to help her properly defend her side, the RN eventually lost the case. Hiring a nurse attorney could have led to a different outcome for the RN.

Avoid the same thing from happening in your case. Make sure to take the necessary steps in dealing with a complaint filed before the Board against you or else, your RN license may be put in danger.

If you received a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing for negligence or any other offense, it is best to consult an experienced Texas nurse attorney who can guide you on the steps you need to take to protect your RN or LVN license.

Contact a Texas nurse attorney today who can provide you with a confidential consultation and evaluate your case and counsel you on the best steps to take. Contact Nurse Attorney Yong J. An by calling or texting him 24/7 directly at (832) 428-5679.