Anyone can file a complaint against an RN with the state board for any reason. When this happens, all complaints need to be taken seriously no matter how trivial or unfounded they may appear. A San Antonio nurse attorney is someone who can help you defend your license when the Texas Board of Nursing summoned you.
On or about December 18, 2018, through December 31, 2018, an RN from San Antonio failed to ensure that delegated house staff administered and accurately documented the administration of a patient’s evening dose of Clozaril (clozapine) as ordered by the physician and/or psychiatrist. Her conduct was likely to harm the patient due to ineffective treatment of psychotic behaviors.
On or about January 1, 2019, through January 14, 2019, the RN failed to ensure that a refill of Clozaril (clozapine) was available for administration to a patient as ordered by the physician and psychiatrist. Subsequently, the patient exhibited behavior changes including physical aggression towards others, refusal of blood pressure and heart monitoring, flushing medications down the toilet, and locking himself in a room. On January 17, 2019, the patient required transfer to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
The RN’s conduct was likely to harm the patient due to ineffective treatment of psychotic behaviors. and may have contributed to his need for transfer to an inpatient psychiatric facility.
Subsequently, the RN failed to notify and document notification of the physician and/or psychiatrist, that a patient was not receiving Clozaril (clozapine) as ordered. Her conduct deprived the physician and/or psychiatrist, of the opportunity to institute timely medical interventions to stabilize the patient.
On or about January 10, 2019, the RN failed to notify the physician when a patient had symptoms including hand tremors, low blood pressure, and a poor appetite but refused to go to the emergency room. In addition, she failed to inform the physician when the patient refused blood pressure and heart monitoring following her evaluation by the cardiologist on January 11, 2019. Subsequently, the patient experienced a cardiac arrest and respiratory failure while in a psychiatric facility on January 19, 2019, and died on January 21, 2019. Her conduct deprived the physician of the opportunity to institute timely interventions to stabilize the patient and may have contributed to his death.
During the hearing, the RN states she requested assistance from her superiors to resolve issues and requested an additional house staff meeting to address unlicensed staff’s lack of entries about Clozaril administration and her desire for the unlicensed staff to contact her promptly when a patient’s medication supply was down to approximately 5-7 days, so reorders could be done. The RN states her superiors did not follow through on her request.
The RN states there was a history of difficulty obtaining refill prescriptions because the psychiatrist switched pharmacies and had difficulty utilizing electronic prescription processes. Therefore, when she learned the patient was having refill issues with Clozaril around January 3, 2019, she informed the psychiatrist via text in order to pick up a hard copy of the prescription from his office, and the prescription was picked up on January 11, 2019.
On January 16, 2019, the RN states she became aware that the patient had no Clozaril and she called the pharmacy. The next day the pharmacy stated they were out of Clozaril. The RN also states she was first alerted to unlicensed staff’s concern that the patient was not eating on January 10, 2019, but the patient reported to the RN that he had been eating and was fine and he had been to the Primary Care Physician’s office that same day.
In addition, the RN states she spoke to the cardiologist on January 11, 2019. the RN states she became aware of the patient’s aggressive behavior on January 17, 2019, and her superiors were aware of the same.
Once a charge from the Board is filed, that case becomes public record and available for the world to see. When this happens, this makes it very difficult to get a job that takes insurance. An experienced San Antonio nurse attorney knows how to avoid these pitfalls.
Attorney Yong J. An is a Texas nurse license defense lawyer that has a proven track record. He has over 16 years of experience handling the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary action cases and has helped protect the license of numerous nurses in Texas. For a confidential consultation, call or text him at (832) 428-5679.