In nursing, a physician’s order should be check before administering medication to patients. It is to ensure that the right amount and correct medication is being administered to avoid complications during the treatment of the patient. But some nurse tends to do mistakes and not follow the intended order. If this happens, and you have been summoned by the Board, help from a nurse attorney is needed.
At the time of the incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in McKinney, Texas, and had been in that position for ten (10) months.
An incident happened on or about January 6, 2020, the RN withdrew four (4) Dilaudid 2mg tablets, a total of 8mg, from the Pyxis medication dispensing system for the patient and administered them to the patient, which is in excess dosage of the physician’s order. The physician’s order was for Dilaudid 4mg every three (3) hours as needed for pain.
Additionally, the RN only documented that two (2) Dilaudid tablets were pulled from the Pyxis medication dispensing system and administered in the patient’s Medication Administration Record (MAR) and/or Nurses’ Notes, although she admitted to administering all four (4) Dilaudid tablets. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that the administration of medication in excess dosage of the physician’s orders could result in the patient suffering from adverse reactions. Additionally, the RN’s conduct created an inaccurate medical record and placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the incident, the RN states that she pulled four (4) tablets of Dilaudid for the patient instead of two (2) tablets, thinking one (1) tablet was 1 mg. The RN states that she was in a hurry and did not pay attention to the prompt screen in the Pyxis. The RN states that she only scanned two (2) tablets, which is all the patient can have, but administered all four (4) tablets to the patient. The RN states that had she scanned the other two (2) tablets, it would have prompted her that she’s over the dose and caught her error.
Due to the above-mentioned incident, the RN was subjected to disciplinary action by the Board. The RN failed to hire a nurse attorney for her case and now facing the consequence of her actions.
If you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process, you can contact The Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.