All nurses have orders to be followed to ensure a patient is on the right track to recovery. Missing an order or inaccurate execution of a physician’s order could harm a patient which could result in a poor outcome. If you are accused of negligence, seek help from a nurse attorney. You should know ways to defend your stand against such accusations or allegations. Hiring a nurse attorney can surely help.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN and in the role of Director of Nursing at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Sugar Land, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) year and ten (10) months.
On or about December 2, 2020, through December 18, 2020, while employed as an RN and in the role of Director of Nursing at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Sugar Land, Texas, RN failed to intervene appropriately and to ensure staff were providing the necessary wound care interventions and weekly assessments as ordered by the physician for a patient, who had multiple diabetic ulcers to the left foot. Additionally, the RN failed to ensure that the physician was aware of the left heel pressure ulcer, which had deteriorated from a Stage 3 to a Stage 4 and failed to upgrade the plan of care as required per the facility policy. As a result, the patient’s left leg/foot became red and warm to touch, which required the patient to be transferred to the Emergency Room for evaluation and treatment. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the resident from undetected progression of clinical complications, including those associated with the progression of skin break down and/or pressure wounds.
In response, RN states the resident was seen by a podiatrist every month to assess and manage wound care and that all orders were implemented as directed. On December 2, 2020, the treatment nurse assessed the skin and documented on the weekly skin assessment sheet the development of blisters to the calf area. RN states that it was the treatment nurse who failed to document in the chart on the nurse’s notes, SBAR, matrix incident report, and place on the nurse-to-nurse report. Also, the treatment nurse failed to notify the physician and Director of Nursing (DON) that there was a change in condition on December 2, 2020, and December 9, 2020, as required by the facility policy. RN states the DON responsibility to follow up and ensure that policy and procedures are in place/implemented cannot be completed if not notified of changes as required by staff, and admits she was not aware of skin changes that required new wound care orders on December 2, 2020.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C),(1)(M)&(1)(O) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(F),(2)&(4).
However, without valid evidence to defend her side of the story, the RN lost the case. Furthermore, the RN failed to hire a Texas BON attorney to help her with her case. Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined the RN’s license.
Do not be stressed or anxious if you find yourself in a similar situation as that of the RN mentioned above. All you need to do is to find the right RN/LVN license attorney who can help you in the case. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN/LVN license attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 300 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679.