Minor errors at work are stressful issues for an RN or LVN, except when a nurse attorney assists you against the case. The Texas Board of Nursing is responsible for all hearings against RNs and LVNs undergoing a case that may revoke, suspend, or only discipline their license. Take note that a nurse attorney can also defend a nurse’s license against accusations, which may include minor errors at work.
At the time of the initial incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in College Station, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years and three (3) months.
It was on or about February 19, 2019, while employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the LVN failed to clarify a physician’s order for Morphine for a hospice patient and subsequently administered 0.3ml (6mg) at 0710, 1 ml (20mg) at 0750, and 2ml (40mg) at 1120. The correct physician’s order was for the patient to receive 0.2ml (4mg) of Morphine 20mg/ml every four hours as needed for pain. As a result, the patient was transported to the hospital where she was treated for an overdose and subsequently expired two (2) days later. The LVN’s conduct unnecessarily exposed the patient to a risk of harm from complications associated with overdose and may have contributed to and/or hastened the patient’s subsequent demise.
In response, the LVN states the Morphine bottles read “Morphine 20mg/ml” and the order in the chart was written as “Morphine 2ml/2mg Q4H PRN.” The LVN states she interpreted the order as 2ml every 4 hours as needed. The LVN states that she later realized the order she read was wrong, so she called the team manager and chief CEO and was instructed to call 911 and ask EMS to administer Narcan.
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the LVN and her license to disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled nurse attorney, had the LVN hired one. Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against a nurse
The Texas Board of Nursing has control over all cases that may affect the license and career of an RN or LVN. Therefore, based on the findings of the Board, the LVN received disciplinary action to ensure further safety and accurate documentation as she works in the future. She should hire a nurse attorney for instances such as this.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced nurse attorneys in Texas, Nurse Attorney Yong J. An. He has assisted numerous nursing license cases since 2006. You may contact him by dialing (832) 428-567 if you wish to learn more information should you undergo accusations or any other case that may affect your license.