Not following a physician’s order on the administration of medication can bring a great risk of harm to any patient. It is part of the nurse’s duty to ensure that the patient was administered the correct medication and also in a timely manner. But if an RN incorrectly administered the medication, there’s a corresponding consequence to it. The Board may summon you and subject you to disciplinary action or even worse than that. But a nurse attorney on the other hand can help you get through such a situation.
At the time of the incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in Mission, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) months.
The incident happened on or about June 8, 2019, the LVN incorrectly administered the wrong form of tetanus vaccination to a patient in that the LVN administered a Tdap vaccine, instead of the Td vaccine, as ordered. In addition, the LVN failed to obtain the aforementioned patient’s consent prior to the administration of the tetanus vaccination. Subsequently, the patient’s consent was obtained after the administration of the tetanus vaccination. The LVN’s conduct unnecessarily exposed the patient to the risk of harm in that failure to administer medication as ordered could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
Further, the LVN’s conduct unnecessarily exposed the patient to the risk of harm in that failure to obtain the patient’s informed consent jeopardized the patient’s personal autonomy.
In response to the incident, the LVN state she received verbal orders to administer a Tdap vaccine and asked the provider to verify that the vaccine she showed her was correct. Respondent states that the orders on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) were Tdap at the same dosage, so she assumed it was correct. The LVN states that after she administered the vaccine, the provider asked if she had the patient sign a written consent and the LVN admitted that it was her first time giving a vaccine on her own and she forgot to print the form before she gave the vaccine. Lastly, the LVN states that while the provider was helping her chart the vaccine given on the MAR, the provider realized the LVN had administered the wrong vaccine.
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 attorney Yong.