In the high-stress and fast-paced environment of healthcare, accurate documentation and effective communication are crucial to ensure patient safety and quality of care. However, there are instances where medical professionals may face challenges in accurately documenting patient treatment, which can have serious implications for patient well-being and lead to legal consequences for the RN involved. When RNs encounter legal challenges related to patient care, a nurse attorney can provide essential legal expertise to support the RN, navigate the complexities of the situation, and safeguard their professional interests throughout the legal process.
At the time of the initial incident, he was employed as an RN at a medical facility in Mission, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) years and two (2) months.
On or about November 22, 2021, through November 23, 2021, while employed as a Staff Nurse on the Immediate Care Unit at a medical facility in Mission, Texas, RN was accused of the following:
- RN inaccurately documented that he administered three (3) oral doses of Lactulose 20g/30ml in 60ml to a patient, when the patient was unable to swallow medication orally due to his altered mental status. RN’s conduct created an inaccurate medical record and was likely to injure the patient as subsequent caregivers would rely on his documentation to provide further care.
- RN failed to notify and/or document the notification of the physician when the above mentioned patient was unable to take Lactulose orally due to his altered mental status. RN’s conduct deprived the physician of the opportunity to institute timely medical interventions to stabilize the patient.
In response to the above incidents, RN states he scanned the Lactulose and attempted to administer it, but the patient would not arouse. RN states it was a documentation error because the record was not updated to indicate the medication was not actually given.
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)(D),(1)(M)&(1)(P) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(4).
However, without enough evidence to prove he’s not guilty, the RN lost the case. This is the reason why the Texas Board of Nursing placed his RN license under disciplinary action.
If you ever undergo cases such as this, it’s best to seek the assistance of a good nurse attorney as it could make the case better in your favor. Be sure to find a nurse attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in several nurse cases to ensure the best assistance possible. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. He is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 300 nurses before the Texas BON. To contact him, please dial (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.