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An LVN who violates the state laws and issuances from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) should seek proper help from a nurse attorney.  Doing so could make or break their cases. As a matter of fact, the LVN license can even be suspended or revoked if not defended properly.

The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN license and LVN license.  The BON has the power to suspend and/or revoke the nurse license.  It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the State of Texas.

A perfect example of this happened to an LVN who was then employed in Charge Nurse in San Antonio, Texas. During the time of the initial incident, she had been in that position for only six months.

On or about September 16, 2016, the LVN failed to physically verify the intravenous insulin drip infusion rate, the insulin bag and the physician order for the patient’s medical room when the patient’s nurse asked her to verify the order. Instead, the LVN checked the order near the nurse’s station then directed the patient’s nurse to a floor nurse to verify the order. Both the LVN and the floor nurse failed to realize that the order was for a continuous IV insulin drip which is supposed to be administered only in the Intensive Care Unit which has close monitoring.

Subsequently, the patient received continuous IV drip insulin of 8 units per hour for seven hours without appropriate monitoring of subsequent blood glucose readings. After the seven hours of IV insulin drip, the patient didn’t feel well, a fingerstick blood glucose level of 59mg/dl was obtained, the insulin infusion was discontinued and the patient was given juice for the hypoglycemia.

The LVN defend the accusations filed against her by stating that on the night in question it was very busy, and the patient’s nurse approached her regarding an order for insulin. She relates that she reviewed the written order with the patient name, a medical record number, documented most recent glucose level and the amount of insulin the patient should receive for that glucose level.

The LVN further explains that being new to the hospital, she wasn’t aware that the Medical Surgical unit did not infuse continuous insulin drips. She also adds that she then referred that patient’s nurse to another nurse who had more experience on the unit to review, confirm and verify the order.

Unfortunately for the LVN, she was not able to get the right nurse attorney to help her defend her case. The result is that her LVN license was suspended and disciplined.

Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact the nurse attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.