An experienced nurse attorney has surely helped a lot of RNs and LVNs when it comes to cases that may lead to disciplinary action. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that an LVN committed on August 26, 2015, was one of those examples.
On or about August 26, 2015, an LVN from Austin failed to adequately assess the mole and document her care of a patient, including family history of any skin cancer, history of any bleeding, the onset and growth rate of the mole, documentation of offering a referral to dermatology, and the patient declining a biopsy.
Additionally, the LVN failed to educate the patient regarding the importance of seeking a biopsy to rule out skin cancer. Her conduct resulted in an incomplete medical record, exposed the patient unnecessarily to a risk of harm from clinical care decisions formulated based upon incomplete assessment information, and deprived the patient of information necessary to make informed decisions regarding her health care.
The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction over all cases regarding errors committed by an RN or LVN. Thus, she was called by the Board to defend against the case.
During the hearing, the LVN states that she first saw the patient regarding a mole on his upper back that had been there for several years per the patient. She states that the patient-related that the dog had scratched it whereupon it bled. She indicates that she assessed the lesion for the ABCDE’s, and the mole didn’t look suspicious but gave the patient the option of a referral to a dermatologist to have it assessed, but the patient declined this, and also declined to have the mole biopsied.
This conduct done by the LVN exposed the patient to a risk of any potential danger plus she also failed to provide the patient with the appropriate amount of case.
The following incident and defense against the case caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the LVN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. She would have sought assistance from a good nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse lawyer for various licensing cases for 14 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.