Nurses, the backbone of healthcare, typically have to deal with serious levels of burnout – the COVID-19 pandemic has made the problem that much worse. At this time, nurses can’t avoid problems and issues regarding negligence, complaints, and many more. Help from a Beaumont nurse attorney is indeed the great and best choice there is.
On or about May 24, 2018, through July 8, 2018, while employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Beaumont, the RN allegedly withdrew Oxycodone, Midazolam, Dilaudid, and Fentanyl, from the Medication Dispensing System for patients, but failed to document, or accurately and completely document, the administration of the medications in the patients’ Medication Administration Record (MAR) and Nurse’s Notes.
In addition, the RN failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedure for the wastage of the unused portions of the medications. Her conduct left medications unaccounted for, was likely to deceive the hospital pharmacy, and placed the pharmacy in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Her conduct also created inaccurate medical records and was likely to injure the patients, in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patients, which could result in an overdose. Furthermore, Respondent’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
On or about April 20, 2019, the same RN lacked the fitness to practice professional nursing in that she exhibited impaired behavior while on duty that included, but is not limited to, being forgetful, took frequent bathroom breaks, agitated, and confused. Additional, on or about April 22, 2019, while the RN was submitting a specimen for a reasonable suspicion drug screen, the employee health nurse found two normal saline syringes in the back waistband of her pants, as well as a vial of Furosemide and Ativan, found in her pant pocket with a blunted needle and an empty syringe with a blunted needle attached to it. Furthermore, there were about 2.5mL of yellow cloudy fluid noted in one of the 10mL normal saline syringes which came back as urine. Her condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in patients’ conditions, and could have affected her ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
Because of the incident, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined and suspended the RN.
If you are a Nurse in Beaumont who has any disciplinary issues before the Texas Board of Nursing, please contact Beaumont nurse attorney Yong J. An, call or text at 832 428 5679 or anlawfirm@gmail.com. Mr. An has represented over 100 nurses before the Texas Board of Nursing since 2006.