Every nurse needs a nurse attorney to represent them in facing the Board. As for the reason, some nurses faced inevitable scenarios and negligence at work. And because of these, nurses may make mistakes while at work.
At the time of the initial incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in New Braunfels, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) month.
It was on or about June 19, 2018, through August 22, 2018, the LVN administered Eliquis 2.5mg, Lorazepam 0.5mg, and Hydrocodone 10/325mg to patients outside the parameters of the physician’s orders. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patients in that the incorrect administration of medications could result in the patients suffering from adverse reactions. Additionally, the LVN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481(Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
On or about July 14, 2018, through August 22, 2018, while the LVN withdrew two (2) tablets of Potassium Chloride 1 Omeq, one ( I ) tablet of Citalopram 20mg, one (1) tablet of Losartan 50 mg, one (1) IV bag of Lactated Ringers 1000ML, three (3) tablets of Lipitor20mg, two (2) tablets of Clonazepam 0.5mg, and one (1) ampule of Fentanyl 2m1/50mcg from the medication dispensing system for patients but failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedure for wastage of the unused portions of the medications. The LVN’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.
On or about July 14, 2018, through July 23, 2018, the LVN withdrew two (2) tablets of Potassium Chloride lOmeq, one (1) tablet of Citalopram 20mg, one (1) tablet of Losartan 50mg, one (1) IV bag of Lactated Ringers 1000 ML, one (1) vial of Morphine 4mg/I ml and two (2) tablets of Clonazepam 0.5mg from the medication dispensing system for patients, but failed to document and/or accurately and completely document the administration of the medication in the patients’ Medication Administration Record (MAR) and/or Nurses’ Notes. The LVN’s conduct 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. Additionally, The LVN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481(Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
On or about July 19, 2018, the LVN removed and administered ‘A Normal Saline (0.45%) and Potassium Chloride (KC1) to a patient’s medical record instead of Normal Saline (0.9%) and KC1, as ordered by the physician. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that failing to administer medications as ordered by the physician could result in the patient suffering from adverse reactions.
Another was on or about July 22, 2018, and July 23, 2018, the LVN removed and administered Guaifenesin with Codeine to a patient’s medical record, instead of Guaifenesin, as ordered by the physician. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that failing to administer medications as ordered by the physician could result in the patient suffering from adverse reactions. Additionally, the LVN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481(Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the incidents, the LVN states she was in training and was told to pull and administer medications under the supervision of the nurse training her. The LVN states management was informed medications were given incorrectly and an incident report was made. The LVN states the medication dispensing machines were malfunctioning during her training and she documented each error in her personal records. The LVN states that all medications were properly disposed of and any time there was a discrepancy or she forgot to document, she would have to come back to work to fix the problem. The LVN states on multiple occasions the medication dispensing machines were not working correctly and she would send a note to the pharmacy. The LVN states the nurse training her would check off on everything and the only time they missed anything is when the hospital was busy. The LVN states in these cases they would come back the next day to do a late entry. The LVN states the wrong medication was never pulled for a patient, however, the order had expired and the nurse on duty had to call the physician to have it reinstated.
Due to the mistakes or negligence made by the LVN that leads to a bad result, her LVN license was disciplined by the Texas Board of Nursing. Failure to hire a nurse attorney to fully defend her case can lead to this decision by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? 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 Nurse Attorney Yong.