Nursing assessment skills are one of the nurse’s most valuable assets. This is the main reason why whenever someone filed a complaint against you involving improper assessment, your license could be put in danger if not defended by a BON attorney.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an LVN at a rehabilitation facility in Texarkana, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about July 28, 2017, while employed as an LVN at a rehabilitation facility in Texarkana, Texas, LVN failed to fully assess a resident when she had a sudden change in condition, including yelling, flailing her legs and arms, and incoherent and uncooperative behavior. Specifically, LVN failed to obtain the resident’s blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration, and blood glucose. The resident sustained multiple injuries during the above-referenced episode, and upon the arrival of EMS, the resident was noted to have a critical blood glucose level of 28 mg/dL. Subsequently, the resident was admitted to a hospital. LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from potentially adverse complications of undetected and untreated fluctuations in blood glucose.
In response, LVN states that she was new to the floor and unfamiliar with the patients. LVN states that the report she received at hand-off was very poor. LVN states that as a result, she was unaware of the patient’s status as a diabetic. LVN states that when she called the physician assistant on call that morning, he said this was a psych problem and not to send the patient to the hospital, as they would just send her back. LVN states that the insulin reaction was atypical and unlike any she had seen before. LVN states that the oncoming nurse, who was familiar with this patient, did not seem to think it was an insulin reaction as she didn’t assist in her care or even mention it could be her blood sugar. LVN states that the patient’s violent behavior required constant hands-on work to prevent the patient from falling and LVN states she feared the patient would knock her head on the tile floor, causing increased trauma. LVN states that as a result, she was unable to leave her long enough to go get the medicine cart, unlock it, and get the equipment to check the patient’s vital signs. LVN states that on the second call to the physician’s assistant he started to send the patient to the hospital, but still insisted it was a psych issue, not a medical issue.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and are a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(M)&(2)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
Unfortunately, LVN failed to hire the services of an expert BON attorney when a disciplinary case was filed against her. In fact, the LVN waived representation by counsel, informal conference, and notice and hearing. All these resulted in her license being placed under disciplinary action by the Texas BON.
For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas BON attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who has helped more than 200 nurse BON license cases of RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832)-428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.