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It’s best to seek the help of a nurse attorney when facing different complaints and allegations. However, some nurses tend to face these results instead without thinking that nurse attorneys are always reliable for matters such as these. 

At the time of the initial incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a Correctional facility in Denton, Texas, and on assignment. The LVN had been in that position for three (3) months.

On or about July 1 9, 201 5, through July 20. 201 5, while utilizing a Privilege to Practice Nursing from the State of Texas and employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the LVN failed to adequately assess a patient, a detainee, and intervene when the patient presented for intake to the facility. The patient had diagnoses of hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes, and asthma, and had a blood pressure reading of 166/99 on admission. The LVN failed to contact the jail physician for medication orders pertinent to his diagnoses and failed to assess the patient’s glucose levels. Additionally, the patient was brought back to the nurse’s station later during the LVN’s shift, and the patient reported shortness of breath. The LVN assessed his heart rate to be 115 and oxygen saturation at 90%, though she failed to obtain other vital signs or glucose readings; and again failed to notify the physician. The patient never received insulin or other medications while in custody and expired on July 22, 2015. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from clinical care decisions based upon incomplete assessment information and deprived the physician of information that would be required to institute timely medical interventions to stabilize the patient’s medical conditions.

In response to the incident, the LVN states that when she performed the intake screening on the patient, he reported asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. The LVN states that he was placed on a diabetic diet; she made a request for his medical records and active prescriptions from identified physicians; and placed the patient on daily blood pressure checks and daily insulin checks. The LVN states that when the patient was returned to the nurse’s station later, he complained of shortness of breath. The LVN added that the initial pulse oxygenation reading was 90%, but when he coughed and it was rechecked, it went up to 92%. And that the patient was placed in a medical observation cell so he could be monitored. The LVN also added that she instructed the inmate that he should attempt to sit up a bit while sleeping since it was difficult for him to breathe while lying down flat. The LVN adds that there were no mandatory nursing protocols in place at the time for sick calls or emergency situations. The LVN’s involvement with the patient was limited to two evaluations, one at the time of intake on July 19, 201 5, and the other in the early morning hours of July 20, 2015. The LVN was not present at the facility following 5:00 a.m. on July 20, 2015. The patient subsequently expired forty-eight hours later when the LVN was not present.

However, she was not able to provide a good defense for herself. Therefore, the Texa Board of Nursing (BON) placed her LVN license to disciplinary action instead.

If you ever undergo cases such as this, it’s best to seek the assistance of a good nurse attorney as it could make the case better in your favor. Be sure to find a nurse attorney who’s experienced and knowledgeable in several nurse cases to ensure the best assistance possible.

If you also received a complaint regarding a case filed against you, you should hire a nurse attorney immediately before it’s too late. Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse lawyers who helped various nurses in their cases since 2006. You may contact him 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 for more information or if you want to schedule a private consultation.