In a Nurse-Patient relationship, there are boundaries that are set to avoid misunderstanding and to avoid personal feelings or emotions involved during treatment. It is also on the part of the nurses to be nice and kind to their patients to avoid emotional distress. However, if you are found to be in arguments with a patient, you just need to be prepared in case a complaint or summon from the Texas Board of Nursing will happen. Being prepared means having a nurse attorney as your legal counsel to represent you before the Texas Board of Nursing.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Longview, Texas and had been in that position for one (1) year and six (6) months.
On or about September 7, 2020, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Longview, Texas, RN did not follow the facility’s policy with regards to de-escalation techniques when dealing with combative inmates. Specifically, through verbal communication with the patient, an inmate, RN used language that could have been misperceived by the patient, an inmate. This interaction was limited in nature and duration and resolved without incident. RN’s conduct could have caused emotional, physical, and/or psychological harm to the patient and could have interfered or disrupted this patient’s treatment. However, this event did not result in actual emotional, physical, and/or psychological harm to the patient or disruption in this patient’s treatment as it only involved verbal communication and the patient later affirmed, he did not feel threatened, either physically or emotionally.
In response, RN states she provided a clear, verbal warning to the patient that if he continued to advance on her and staff, then he would be physically restrained. RN attempted in good faith, per her training and understanding of the facility’s policy, to curb a single particular inmate’s combativeness and hostility towards her and staff.
The above action constitutes 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)(J) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A), (1)(B),(4),(6)(C)&(6)(F).
However, without valid evidence to defend her side of the story, the RN lost the case. Furthermore, the RN failed to hire a Texas BON attorney to help her with her case. Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined the RN’s license.
Do not be stressed or anxious if you find yourself in a similar situation as that of the RN mentioned above. All you need to do is to find the right RN/LVN license attorney who can help you in the case. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN/LVN license attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 300 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679.