Nurses are involved in patient’s medication. Proper administration of medication means that medicines or drugs are correctly given to patients along with the correct dosage. Administering medication should be followed according to a physician’s order without mistakes or else could lead the patient in danger. Receiving complaints and accusations of such matters is really trouble to both your career and license. If this happens, a nurse attorney can help you with such a case.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Prairie, Texas, and had been in that position for seven (7) years and five (5) months.
An incident happened on or about November 19, 2018, the RN administered Fentanyl 50 meg/mL to a patient in excess frequency and/or dosage of the physician’s order. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that the administration of medication in excess frequency and/or dosage of the physician’s orders could result in the patient suffering from adverse reactions. Additionally, the RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substance Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Cade.
And, on or about November 5, 2018, through January 31, 2019, the RN withdrew medications from the medication dispensing system for patients, but failed to document and/or completely and accurately document the administration of two (2) tablets of Hydrocodone 5/325mg, one (1) tablet of Hydrocodone 10/325, two (2) syringes of Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5mL, two (2) tablets of Tramadol 50mg, ten (10) ampules of Fentanyl 50mcg, one (1) syringe of Lorazepam 2mg, two (2) syringes of Morphine 4mg, two (2) tablets of Tylenol #3 with Codeine 3mg, and three (3) syringes of Hydromorphone Img, including patient assessments before the administration of the medications, signs, symptoms, and responses to the medications, in the patients’ Medication Administration Records and/or nurses’ notes. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patients, in that subsequent caregivers would rely on his documentation to further medicate the patients, which could result in an overdose. Additionally, The RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substance Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In addition, the RN withdrew one (1) tablet of Ilydrocodone 10/325mg, two (2) syringes of Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5mL, one (1) tablet of Tramadol 50mg, seven (7) ampules of Fentanyl of 50mcg, one (1) syringe of Lorazepam 2mg, two (2) syringes of Morphine 4mg, one (1) tablet of Tylenol #3 with Codeine 3mg, and three (3) syringes of Hydromorphone Img, from the medication dispensing system for patients, but failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedures for wastage of the unused portions of the medications. The RN’s 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.
In response to the incidents that happened, the RN states he does not specifically recall any instance where he administered any medication in excess frequency/dosage than ordered. The RN states he may have mischarted the administration amount in the Medication Administration Record (MAR), the patient did not experience any untoward outcome and was discharged from Houston Methodist Hospital without incident. The RN states it is common practice for nurses to remove and waste medications for other nurses. He states nowhere in the policies does it state that the same nurse who withdraws a medication must be to one to also waste said medication. He states the medication dispensing system and facility policy required a second nurse to witness all narcotic wastes.
The incidents above had resulted in the RN’s unfortunate situation. The RN received the sanction and has to take disciplinary action from the Board. The Boards decision properly based on the evidence received that proves the violation committed by the RN. Everything could have been avoided by the RN if only he consulted and hired a nurse attorney for this case.
It is best to hire a nurse attorney who has a lot of experience in handling nurse cases. Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.