The trust and safety of patients under a nurse’s care are of paramount importance in healthcare. However, an RN working with a therapy services provider, resorted to excessive force to administer a patient’s medications, and was captured on video surveillance, raises concerns about potential harm to the patient, both physically and emotionally. In such cases, a nurse attorney can provide valuable assistance by assessing the conduct for legal and professional violations, advocating for the patient’s well-being, and guiding healthcare facilities in preventing such incidents and ensuring patients receive the respectful and compassionate care they deserve.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN with a therapy services provider in Allen, Texas, and had been in that position for nine (9) months.
On or about November 7, 2021, while employed as an RN with a therapy services provider in Allen, Texas, and assigned to provide skilled nursing care to a patient, RN forcefully held down the patient to administer her medications. Subsequently, this incident was captured on video surveillance. RN’s conduct was likely to cause emotional, physical, and/or psychological harm to the patient and could have interfered or disrupted this patient’s treatment.
In response, RN states she did not forcefully hold down the patient to administer medications. RN states she used a technique called comfort positioning for medical procedures. RN states it was done solely for the purpose of medication administration to prevent exacerbation of symptoms. RN states the patient’s improved after that. RN states the patient has a history of respiratory problems. RN states it was difficult to get a 3year-old to comply with inhalers or nasal sprays, but it made a huge difference to her work of breathing when she received the medications. RN states it was not an act of violence or inappropriate force but rather a quick administration of a medication that was vital for the patient’s well-being. RN states the patient was not hurt but rather continued to have improved breathing with less wheezing after administration. RN states this was an important intervention to keep her safe and out of the hospital. RN states it was a difficult task and that is why a nurse was hired to do it and why it was likely not being done when she was not present. RN states it required a gentle but quick action to ensure the medication was delivered.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B)&(1)(C) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A), (1)(B),(4),(6)(A),(6)(C),(6)(F)&(6)(H).
The evidence against the RN was strong. At the same time, she was not able to properly defend her case in court. As a result, her nursing license was placed under disciplinary action.
Avoid the similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right defense attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 500 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 17 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.