Every practicing RN license holder in the state of Texas is required to follow certain rules and regulations imposed by the government. These laws and statutes were implemented to ensure that the safety of the patients is protected by the state. An RN who commits any violation can place her RN License in jeopardy. The Texas Board of Nursing has the authority to revoke or suspend an RN license in the country for as long as there is a justifiable reason. Failure to hire a nurse attorney could lead to RN license suspension.
On or about June 29, 2016, while employed as a RN in a children’s hospital in Dallas, the RN failed to take post-operative vital sign readings on a patient every two hours during her shift as ordered by the physician.
In addition, the RN falsely documented she took vital signs on a patient at 2:00 am, 4:00 am, and 6:00 am. Her conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record, and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent care givers would rely on her documentation in order to provide further patient care.
The RN was given the chance to defend her case. She states she failed to take post-operative blood pressures on this patient. However, oxygen saturations and respirations were taken every hour per policy when a patient is on patient-controlled analgesia. This incident was brought to her attention by a nurse practitioner. She explained to her that she did not take the blood pressures due to a misunderstanding of the hospital policy and report given to her. The RN states the nurse practitioner then instructed her to put blood pressures in the chart.
Unfortunately, the Texas BON was found guilty of her deeds. She was disciplined and her RN license was suspended.
In another incident happened on or about November 28, 2016, another RN failed to administer the chemotherapy hydration to a patient in a timely manner. Instead, the RN waited approximately one and a half hours after receiving the lab results to hang and start the hydration infusion. Her conduct unnecessarily delayed the initiation_of the patient’s chemotherapy and subsequent autologous transplant.
The RN was also given the chance to defend herself on the accusations filed against her. She states that at around 6:00, the educator and a staff RN asked her if she was going to give the pre-hydration to the patient. The RN states she asked the RN to check and see if the patient’s labs were up and if they were normal. She states the RN told her patient’s labs were okay so she hung the pre-hydration.
As a result, her RN license was disciplined and suspended by the Texas BON. She did not hire a skilled nurse attorney to fully defend her case which led to this decision by the Texas BON.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of nurse attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.