An RN or LVN who violates the state laws and issuances from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) should seek proper help from a nurse attorney. Doing so could make or break their cases. As a matter of fact, the license can even be suspended or revoked if not defended properly.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN and LVN license. The BON has the power to suspend and/or revoke the nurse license. It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the State of Texas.
On or before December 1, 2016, a disabled woman in her 50s, was admitted to the hospital for increased weakness and decreased the level of functioning. She was later transferred to a nursing home for rehabilitation. In her medical chart, it was clearly expressed that she needed to receive special care and attention due to her health condition.
Because of the state of her health, an LVN needed assistance moving, turning over, and other basic physical functions. The medical records also documented she was at high risk to develop pressure ulcers To avoid the ulcers, the care plan and physician orders stated that the nurses should have performed weekly skin assessments and document the changes. The plan also indicated that she needed to be repositioned regularly so that there would be no extensive pressure nor blood loss to any part of her body.
Sadly, the poor documentation and inability to follow the care plan led to the LVN developing an unstageable, odorous pressure ulcer on her sacrum, a triangular bone that sits between the two hipbones of the pelvis. An unstageable pressure ulcer is one that envelops the full thickness of the skin tissue and the wound is covered by a thick, yellow layer of slough making it hard to determine the true depth. The pressure ulcer was so severe, she developed sepsis and lost much of her ability to walk. Several surgeries were required—surgeries that could have easily been avoided with proper care.
Upon investigation, the LVN’s negligence was impossible to miss. Records showed that she spent significant time in a wheelchair around the nursing home, and there was no effort of the LVN documented to reposition her or to reduce the pressure on the sacrum by offloading through the use of cushions and a specialty mattress. Additionally, there was no account of any skin breakdown or symptoms of a potential pressure ulcer until it was too late. In fact, nursing assessments and notes stated that the skin was intact and there were no problems within hours of transfer for surgery.
Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing found the LVN’s conduct was grossly negligent and resulted in serious injury to the patient. Thus, the LVN was found guilty and her LVN license was disciplined and suspended.
She lost the case simply because she failed to find an effective and efficient nurse attorney.
Avoid committing the same mistake she did. Find the right nurse attorney in Texas to help you with your needs. Contact nurse attorney Yong J. An directly by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 for a discreet consultation.