The accusation is the beginning of struggles for any RN. Once an accusation became a formal charge against an RN could lead to a serious penalty and could cause your license. But such matter can be handled by a nurse attorney. Nurses around the world should know ways how to defend themselves in case a scenario happens.
At the time of the incident, Respondent was employed at a hospital in Denton, Texas, and had been in that position for eight (8) years and two (2) months.
On or about October 22, 2019, through October 24, 2019, the RN failed to intervene when the Certified Nursing Assistant notified the RN that the patient had bleeding from his penis and that there was blood in his Foley Catheter drainage bag. Specifically, the RN assessed the patient and observed that the patient had bleeding from his penis and that there was blood in his Foley Catheter drainage bag.
Additionally, the RN failed to document and/or notifies the patient’s physician and family of the change in condition, after she assessed the patient and observed the blood. Subsequently, the patient was sent to see a urologist, whereupon his arrival he was unresponsive, and Emergency Medical Services was called. The patient was transported to the hospital where he was intubated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with urosepsis and septic shock. The patient expired the following day from hemorrhagic shock. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from lack of appropriate nursing and medical care, including possible demise.
In response to the above incidents, the RN states that on October 22, 2019, through October 24, 2019, it was brought to her attention that the patient did have blood around the tubing of the catheter and on his penis. The RN states that the catheter had been changed recently and the patient was on a blood thinner, Lovenox, which was recently discontinued. The RN states that it was a typical normal occurrence at times to have blood around the tubing from irritation. The RN states that she assessed the patient each time and he did not complain of pain, have a temperature, had no altered mental status, and there was no blood in the catheter bag at any time. The RN states that she did not document the blood around the tubing or contact the physician because she was taught that this was typical with a catheter. The RN states that she now knows that this is not always the case. She also states that on October 25, 2019, the patient had a Doctor’s appointment with a Urologist. And that the patient was alert in the morning, states that he ate his breakfast and watched television. The RN states that the
Certified Nurse Aides were getting him ready for his Doctor’s appointment around noon and that they did not notice anything different about the patient. She also states that the patient was up in his wheelchair at the nurse’s station waiting to leave for his appointment. She also states that the patient was smiling and talking to staff members and he was alert when he left for his appointment. And also states that the facility received a call from the Doctor’s office that the patient was nonresponsive and that he was sent to the emergency room. Then lastly, she states that had she known the patient was sick she would have not sent him to the Doctor’s office, but instead sent him to the hospital herself.
Due to the above-mentioned incidents, the RN was subjected to disciplinary action by the Board. The RN failed to hire a nurse attorney for her case and now facing the consequence of her actions.
If you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process, you can contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for nurse attorney Yong.