All LVN or RN are under the jurisdiction of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). All complaints or cases concerning the practice of the LVN, or RN license are lodged before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Thereafter, the members of the Board will hear the case and decide on the issues or matters submitted for resolution. The parties charged are given an opportunity to be heard. This is part of their right to due process. Included in their rights are having a nurse attorney to defend them in case such a problem arises.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Texarkana, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) year and five (5) months.
On or about March 3, 2020, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Texarkana, Texas, RN, who was precepting another nurse, failed to appropriately intervene and/or document interventions when the patient made repeated requests to the precepted nurse to discontinue an intravenous catheter (IV) on the left hand that was infiltrated, causing the patient to experience pain and swelling. The patient subsequently sustained a blood clot to the left arm from the infiltrated IV. RN’s conduct created an incomplete medical record. RN’s conduct could have caused the patient to experience unnecessary pain and exposed the patient to risk of injury from thrombophlebitis.
In response, after she was notified by the RN caring for the patient that a complaint was made about the IVs, RN evaluated the patient and removed an IV which had been infiltrated and another IV which had not been in use, but which the patient requested to be removed. RN states, and the medical records confirm, that one of the two IVs was not being used and the other IV was evaluated and flushed without difficulty several times before the patient complained. RN further states she was preceptor for another nurse who was caring for the patient, and upon notification of a problem with the IV by the nurse, she immediately assessed the IV sites. RN also states the IVs were discontinued and her assessment noted the left hand was more swollen than the right. RN states she reported the infiltration to the Nurse Practitioner who evaluated the patient and advised RN to provide comfort measures to the affected area. RN further states the patient’s limbs were elevated and hot packs applied but acknowledges this action was not charted.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(D)&(1)(M) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12.(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(4).
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend her side but the RN failed to hire a nurse attorney to help her with her case and without proper defense, the Texas Board of Nursing then decided to place her RN license under disciplinary action.
If you also received a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing regarding a case or complaint filed on you, you should hire a nurse attorney immediately before it’s too late. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse attorneys who helped represent more than 300 nurse cases for the past 16 years. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation regarding any accusations from the Texas BON.