One of the worst things that can happen to an LVN or RN nurse in Texas is to be subjected to a disciplinary case before the Texas Board of Nursing. This can be a cause of so much trouble and stress. At the same time, it can also be time-consuming because a defendant-nurse needs to show up in the proceedings. Most importantly, it is dreadful since the professional nursing license is on the line. But never worry, if you are a nurse with a complaint or accusation case, a nurse attorney can surely help and deal with it.
At the time of the initial incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in El Paso, Texas, and had been in that position for eight (8) years and eight (8) months.
It was on or about March 12, 2019, through March 22, 2019, while employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the LVN failed to notify and/or failed to accurately document the notification of the Registered Nurse Supervisor and/or the provider when a patient had significant changes in wounds, including bloody drainage, white/gray, non-viable wound tissue, and the presence of black eschar. Subsequently, the patient required hospitalization due to deterioration in wounds. The LVN’s conduct deprived the physician of vital information which would be required to institute timely medical interventions, thereby placing the patient at risk for complications.
On or about March 12, 2019, through March 22, 2019, the LVN failed to provide wound care to a patient as ordered by the provider in the Plan of Care. Instead, the LVN added Tegaderm to the hydrocolloid dressing without a provider’s order and without the direction of a Registered Nurse. The LVN’s failure to implement wound care as ordered by the physician exposed the patient unnecessarily to the risk of harm from non-efficacious treatment
On or about March 15, 201 9, while employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the LVN failed to reassess the wound on the right heel of Customer 00200588. Instead, the LVN only assessed and intervened in the patient’s sacral wound. Facility policy states that problems identified in initial and subsequent visits are to be re-evaluated during each home visit. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from clinical care decisions based on incomplete assessment information.
In response, the LVN states she notified the Registered Nurse through email because she thought this was the best way to inform her of her wound status. On March 1 5, 2019, after the Nurse Practitioner made a visit to the patient, the LVN left a voice mail for the Nurse Practitioner to call her and she also called Carter/lrving office and left a message. The LVN states she did not receive a call back from either. In addition, the LVN states on March 21, 2019, she notified Baylor House Calls that patient needed a wound care specialist due to wound necrosis. In addition, the LVN states she thought it was beneficial for the patient to have Tegaderm as a secondary dressing to prevent dressing dislodgement and to prevent wound exposure to urine/stool due to incontinence.
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing subjected the LVN and her license to disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled nurse defense attorney if the LVN had hired one. Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
Contact our experienced Texas Nurse Attorney today for legal guidance If you or someone you know has been approached by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) for disciplinary action or have more questions on the BON process, contact The Law Firm of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, and speak to a Texas Nurse Attorney directly at (832) 428-5679, call or text 24/7.