Losing your license may greatly affect your future career, but only if you failed to hire a nurse attorney for your case. There are some RNs and LVNs who missed their chances to get their license saved from revocation just because they weren’t able to hire any nurse attorney to properly defend them.
This LVN from Houston, Texas happens to be one of them.
On or about August 29, 2015, the LVN removed the central venous catheter (CVC) from a patient, though she was not familiar with the procedure and subsequently performed it incorrectly. The patient then experienced a decline in condition, required intubation, and reinsertion of the CVC. The LVN’s conduct exposed the patient to a risk of harm from complications of a vascular procedure performed without sufficient training and competency, such as bleeding or an air embolism.
The LVN was given the chance to defend herself. She denied all the accusations and cases filed against her.
During the hearing, the LVN states that she received an order to remove the central line because the patient was transitioning from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a lower acuity unit. She states that the patient was still sitting in the chair when she pulled the catheter, which she realizes was the mistake she made after later reviewing the procedure. The LVN clarifies that after she pulled the catheter, the patient started to act like she could not breathe, so she called for help, put the patient back in the bed and applied oxygen, in addition to calling respiratory therapy staff, the physician, the charge nurse, and the anesthesiologist. The LVN adds that she takes this incident very seriously and understands how critical it is to review procedures, even if she believes she knows all the steps.
However, due to lack of evidence to support her case and a nurse attorney to help her, she was disciplined and her LVN license has been subjected for a revocation.
Losing your LVN or RN license can compromise your career. However, a skilled nurse attorney can greatly help you in major cases such as this. For assistance regarding your nurse license case, it’s best to contact Nurse Attorney Yong J. An by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.