The nurse-patient relationship has a boundary that needs to be followed for the sake of both sides. Sometimes a nurse or the patient can’t avoid indulging in the good relationship they have. However, nurses should always remember that boundaries are set for a purpose. If an RN or an LVN is caught violating the boundary, the Board could put her/him in disciplinary action. Such a case can be handled by a nurse attorney. A right nurse attorney could be the solution to your problem.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an RN at a pediatric hospital in Galveston, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about August 3, 2020, while employed as an RN at a pediatric hospital in Galveston, Texas, and assigned to provide skilled nursing care to a patient, RN violated the professional boundaries of the nurse/client relationship by engaging in an intimate relation with the patient in that she sent inappropriate messages, pictures, and videos. More specifically, RN was emotionally involved with the patient who is a quadriplegic and a total care patient, dependent on others for his care. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that it could have resulted in confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the patient. In Addition, RN’s conduct may have caused delayed distress for the patient, which may not be recognized or felt by the patient until harmful consequences occur.
In response, RN states she acknowledges that she violated the professional boundaries with the patient and holds herself accountable for her actions. She states prior to her shifts with the patient she would video call the patient to see if he needed her to bring him anything. (Video calls were easier for the patient). She states, eventually the communication developed into non-work-related communications. RN states by late July, she knew that she needed to separate herself from the patient and that she needed to end the inappropriate communication. She states in August she obtained other employment at a hospice before her termination from the pediatric hospital.
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)(D).
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN and her license into disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled Texas Nursing Law Attorney, had the RN hired one. Hiring a Texas Nursing Law Attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced Texas Nursing Law Attorney, Yong J. An. He is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832)-428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.