An experienced Fort Worth nurse attorney has surely helped a lot of RNs and LVNs when it comes to cases that may lead toward disciplinary action. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that an RN committed on September 5, 2018, was one of those examples.
On or about September 5, 2018, while employed as a Registered Nurse in a hospital in Fort Worth, the RN allegedly failed to assess the urinary status of a patient.
Additionally, the RN failed to notify the physician and/or intervene when the patient’s spouse reported it had been six days since his last bowel movement/low urine output, he had low oxygen saturation with shortness of breath, and decreased intake of food and fluids.
Subsequently, the patient was admitted to the hospital, two days later, with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), acute renal failure, and pneumonia. Her conduct exposed the patient to risk of harm from clinical care decisions based upon incomplete assessment information.
Additionally, her conduct exposed the patient to risk of harm by depriving the physician of vital information that would be required to institute timely medical interventions to stabilize the patient’s condition.
In response to the incident, the RN explains that on or about September 5, 2018, she performed a routine visit to the patient, and noted that his saturations were low. She states that there were adjustments made to O2 levels due to shortness of breath, there were no discussions about a UTI, and there were no signs of change that she felt needed to be reported to a physician. The RN states that the patient’s wife was overwhelmed on this day and required assistance for directive, emotional support, and disposition on patient care. The RN states that a social worker was scheduled to visit on this day, but it didn’t happen.
The RN explains that on September 7, 2018, the patient’s assigned nurse was scheduled to make a visit. She states that on September 14, 2018, she found out from the supervisor with the hospital that the patient was full code on September 7 with respiratory distress, and was taken to the hospital where he died on September 11 due to sepsis. She states that she resigned on September 14, as there were situations of abuse from office staff, age discrimination, and public ridicule.
The following incident and defense against the case caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the RN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. She would have sought assistance from a good Fort Worth nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced Fort Worth nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse lawyer for various criminal cases for 16 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.