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.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Harlingen, Texas, and had been in that position for six (6) months.
On or about June 10, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN failed to intervene including failure to notify the physician and failure to implement appropriate nursing interventions, when a Patient experienced an acute change in condition; including, respiratory distress with decreased oxygen saturation. Further, the RN failed to recognize the signs of ongoing respiratory distress and, instead, administered Haldol for agitation as the patient continued to deteriorate. The Rapid Response Team was later initiated and the patient was intubated. The RN’s conduct resulted in a delay in treatment and was likely to injure the patient from a lack of appropriate nursing and medical care.
On or about June 10, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN failed to document, and/or completely and accurately document, all events during the shift related to the aforementioned Patient; including patient status, respiratory, nutritional, and neurological assessments, medication administration, contacts with other healthcare team members, and patient’s responses to interventions. The RN’s conduct created an incomplete medical record and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have accurate and complete information on which to base their care decisions.
In response to the incidents above, the RN states the patient was restless during the shift and continued to remove the oxygen mask. The RN states education was provided to the patient on the importance of not removing the oxygen mask. The RN further stated upon return to the patient’s room, the oxygen mask had been removed and the patient’s heart rate was low. The RN states she immediately went to get assistance and also states all telephones are outside the patients’ rooms and nurses do not carry mobile phones. The RN assisted with resuscitation efforts until the code team arrived. The RN also states she believed she had completed all nursing notes prior to departing at the end of her shift.
As a result, her RN license was disciplined and suspended by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). She did not have an nurse attorney to fully defend her case led to this decision by the Texas BON.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for nurse attorney Yong.