Do you want to become a rn nurse in Texas? Are you aware that there are many steps that you need to complete in order to get a professional nursing license? Even after you have secured a license that will allow you to practice in the nursing profession, there is still a need to follow certain rules and regulations imposed by the state especially by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). The compliance to the state laws and administrative rules are important to ensure that your RN nurse will not be revoked nor suspended.
An example of a violation certain set of rules and regulations that led to the suspension of a nursing license involved the case of Maya. She obtained her nursing decree in the early years of 2000 and eventually passed the Nursing Board Exam a year after. With her professional RN license, she was able to secure a job at a medical center. Everything was going well for her until one day; she received a notice from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) for an administrative charge against her.
The complaint alleged that while she was employed as a staff nurse with a children’s health facility in Forth Worth, the RN nurse failed to properly waste and/or return a medication syringe for a patient. Instead, she disposed of the syringe in the trash. Subsequently, the RN nurse retrieved the unlabeled syringe from the trash and administered the medication to the patient. Clearly, she committed a clear violation of the rules and regulations that every nurse must follow. The act of the RN nurse exposed the patient to risk of harm from a medication error, medication contamination, and/or adverse reactions from the medication.
Aside from this, she inappropriately used another nurse’s electronic medical record to log-in online. While inappropriately using the record, she placed a verbal order for ordinance 25mg suspension. This act violates this law:
Sec. 301.452. Grounds for Disciplinary Action.
(a)In this section, intemperate use includes practicing nursing or being on duty or on call while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
(b) A person is subject to denial of a license or to disciplinary action under this subchapter for:
(1) a violation of this chapter, a rule or regulation not inconsistent with this chapter, or an order issued under this chapter;
(2) fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license to practice professional nursing or vocational nursing;
(3) a conviction for, or placement on deferred adjudication community supervision or deferred disposition for, a felony or for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
(4) conduct that results in the revocation of probation imposed because of conviction for a felony or for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
(5) use of a nursing license, diploma, or permit, or the transcript of such a document, that has been fraudulently purchased, issued, counterfeited, or materially altered;
(6) impersonating or acting as a proxy for another person in the licensing examination required under Section 301.253 or 301.255;
(7) directly or indirectly aiding or abetting an unlicensed person in connection with the unauthorized practice of nursing;
(8) revocation, suspension, or denial of, or any other action relating to, the person’s license or privilege to practice nursing in another jurisdiction or under federal law;
(9) intemperate use of alcohol or drugs that the board determines endangers or could endanger a patient;
(10) unprofessional conduct in the practice of nursing that is likely to deceive, defraud, or injure a patient or the public;
(11) adjudication of mental incompetency;
(12) lack of fitness to practice because of a mental or physical health condition that could result in injury to a patient or the public; or
(13) failure to care adequately for a patient or to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing practice in a manner that, in the board’s opinion, exposes a patient or other person unnecessarily to risk of harm.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) sent a letter to Maya in order to inform her regarding the administrative case. After receiving the notice, the RN nurse immediately filed an answer to the complaint. Fortunately for her, she was able to get a good nursing defense lawyer to help her with the case instituted before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). However, the Texas BON still suspended her license for a short period of time.
Consult with Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An today if you have any questions about your response letter or the disciplinary process by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 day, night or weekends.