The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN or LVN nurses. The Board has the power to reprimand the nurses for any violation of the administrative rules and regulations that every nurse is bound to follow. Aside from this, it also has the power to order the suspension or cancellation and revocation of a nursing license.
In exercising the inherent powers of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), it is important that it observes substantive and procedural due process. Every nurse who has a pending case with the Board must be given the right to be notified of the charges against him as well as the right to be heard. Another right available to him to the right to be represented by a counsel. Unfortunately, many nurses waive their right to a lawyer. Because of this, they are often placed in the losing end.
Take for example the case of Kissey who is a vocational nurse in Texas. Right after she passed the Board, she immediately worked at a medical center. A complaint was filed against her before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). At the time of initial incident complained of, the LVN nurse was employed as a staff nurse and had been in that position for seven (7) months. On or about October 15 , 2017, she failed to secure medication in that she left two (2) pills sitting unattended on the counter at the nurse’s station. The conduct was likely defraud the facility and patients thereof of the cost of the medication.
Eventually, a case was filed against her before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Instead of actively participating in the hearing of the case, the vocational nurse chose to waive his right to a counsel. She did not present any evidence to help her defend her case. The Board declared her guilty for the offense charge. As such, she was suspended from the practice of the nursing profession. Moreover, the Board ordered her to undergo probation.
Consult with Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An today if you have any questions about your response letter or the disciplinary process by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 day, night or weekends.