Nurses are always at risk for accusations of medical malpractice or negligence. If someone filed a complaint against you, your license could be put in danger if not defended by a Texas nurse attorney.
At the time of the incidents, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in McKinney, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) years and one (1) month.
On or about August 25, 2016, the RN improperly assigned a triage level of ESI-4 to an infant patient, who presented to the ED after being hit on the head by a softball, when the triage level should have been higher based on the patient’s clinical presentation. Subsequently; after the infant’s head began to swell in the ED waiting room, the provider ordered a computed tomography (CT) scan, which revealed bleeding, in the infant’s brain. The patient required transport to a pediatric acute care facility for further care. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient by delaying the onset of emergency medical interventions needed to treat bleeding in the patient’s brain and prevent complications.
In response, the RN state that the patient’s clinical presentation at the time of triage was 4 stable infants, acting appropriately for age, with a Minot/superficial abrasion to the frontal aspect of the forehead and nose, and no significant bruising or swelling. The RN states the description is supported by his documentation and the documentation of the patient’s provider. The RN states after reviewing the records and the BSI triage algorithm, he was unable to establish a definitive reason as to why the patient’s triage Level show is has been higher. The RN states after evaluating the patient, the Physician’s Assistant (PA) ordered the patient put back in the waiting room for observation and discharge if the patient remained clinically stable and did not show any worsening signs or symptoms that would point to something more serious than a superficial abrasion. The RN states there was no delay in evaluation, assessment, and treatment; the patient was appropriately reevaluated by the same provider upon change of condition in the waiting room and immediately escalated to a higher acuity and level of treatment based on the new development of signs and symptoms that were not present at the time of triage.
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend her side of the story. However, without an effective Texas nurse attorney to help her defend her side, the RN was suspended by the Texas Board of Nursing.
If someone filed a case against you involving misconduct, malpractice, or negligence, it is wise to consult with a nurse attorney who knows everything about nurse cases. Contact Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An at (832) 428-5679 if someone filed a complaint against you. Attorney Yong J An has spent more than 16 years of expertise defending LVNs and RNs. Contact him for a free consultation today.