Maintaining precise control over medication dispensing and administration is a crucial aspect of nursing practice, governed by strict protocols and legal regulations. Any deviation from these standards can have serious implications for both patient safety and the professional conduct of nurses. A nurse attorney plays a pivotal role in cases involving medication errors and non-compliance with legal and professional standards. A nurse attorney provides legal representation and advocate for the nurse’s rights if disciplinary or legal actions are initiated.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an RN at a health care facility in Richardson, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years and six (6) months.
On or about July 6, 2021, while employed as an RN at a health care facility in Richardson, Texas, RN initiated the medication dispense process for a vial of Lorazepam with another Registered Nurse as a witness. RN documented wasting 1.75 mg of Lorazepam prior to physical dispensing of the vial as required by the Pyxis but Witness and RN did not physically waste medication at the end of the transaction per policy. RN asked a second Registered Nurse to give the medication to the patient. When the second Registered Nurse asked RN the amount to administer, RN agreed to the administration of the full dose, despite the physician’s order calling for only 0.25mg to be administered to the patient. The second Registered Nurse who was given the vial, withdrew the medication from the vial into a syringe, and handed the syringe to a third Registered Nurse who administered the full dose to the patient. Above actions from RN resulted in inaccurate documentation of a medication waste. Additionally, RN’s verbal approval of the overage is outside the scope of practice of a Registered Nurse according to the Nurse Practice Act. The patient did not suffer any adverse reactions due to this incident.
In response to the above incident, RN states that she does not agree with these findings but wishes to avoid the length and cost of a trial.
The above action constitutes 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)&(3) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C),(1)(D),(4),(10)(B)&(10)(C).
The evidence against the RN was strong. At the same time, she was not able to properly defend her case in court. As a result, her nursing license was placed under disciplinary action.
Avoid the similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right defense attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 500 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 17 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.