It’s best to seek the help of a nurse attorney when facing charges related to drug use. 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 RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital facility in Abilene, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) months.
On or about September 11, 2018, an RN was referred to the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) for drug use and subsequently signed a Participation Agreement. On or about November 11, 2018, while participating in TPAPN, the RN tested positive for Ketamine. Consequently, due to his noncompliance with drug testing, TPAPN closed his case and referred the RN to the Texas Board of Nursing. The RN’s substance abuse could have affected his ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in conditions, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing patients in potential danger.
On or about May 17, 2019, through May 24, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN withdrew five (5) carpujects of Dilaudid 1mg/mL, three (3) vials of Dilaudid 2mg/mL, one (1) vial of Morphine 4mg/mL, and two (2) vials of Fentanyl 100mcg/2mL from the medication dispensing system for patients without a valid physician’s order. The RN’s conduct was likely to deceive the facility and was likely to injure the patients in that failure to administer medications as ordered by a physician could result in the patients suffering from adverse reactions and the RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substance Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response, the RN maintains the positive result for Ketamine on his November 11, 2018 drug screen was a false positive. In relation to his employment, the RN denies misappropriating ketamine or administering ketamine in excess frequency or dosage of the physician’s order. He also denies falsifying the narcotic sign-out/count sheet record regarding any medication. The RN also denies misappropriating Dilaudid or Lorazepam.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) gave the RN the chance to defend herself. However, she was not able to provide a good defense for herself, especially when the drug screening results were brought up to her. Therefore, the Board placed her RN license to a disciplinary action instead.
If you also received a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing regarding a case or complaint 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.