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It’s best to seek the help of a Fort Worth nurse attorney when facing different complaints and allegations. However, some nurses tend to face these results instead without thinking that nurse attorneys are always reliable for matters such as these. R191065N8073

On or about July 21, 2017, while employed as a Registered Nurse in a hospital in Fort Worth, the RN failed to administer Sandostatin (octreotide acetate) to a patient at 0900 as ordered by physician. Instead, the medication was administered by a different nurse at 1218. Her conduct placed the patient at risk of ineffective treatment and may have prolonged the patient’s recovery period.

On or about July 25, 2017, through July 26, 2017, the same RN simultaneously infused D5 12 20 Potassium Chloride at 75ml/hr, Zosyn at 25ml/hr, and Keppra at 440ml/hr into a single 22g peripheral IV to a patient, an excessive rate/volume to infuse into a 22g IV site. Her conduct may have contributed to the infiltration of the patient’s IV site.

During the same day, the RN failed to document the administration of Zosyn to a patient. She also failed to assess and/or document assessments of the patient’s intravenous (IV) sites every two hours. Near the end of her shift, the patient’s IV site was found to be infiltrated and the cannula had to be removed.

Her conduct created an inaccurate medical record and placed the patient at risk in that subsequent care givers would rely on her documentation to provide further patient care.

On or about August 3, 2017, while employed as a Registered Nurse in the same medical facility, the RN reported to her preceptor that she administered Levemir 60u to a patient when there was no documentation of administration or withdrawal of Levemir 60u from the Pyxis Medication Dispenser. Her conduct placed the patient at risk in that subsequent care givers would rely on her report to provide further care to the patient, and from complications of continued elevated blood glucose.

Subsequently, the RN failed to safely administer medication to the patient when she connected the antibiotic Zerbaxa to an intravenous line that was infusing vasoactive medications, Levophed and Neosynephrine. Her conduct placed the patient at risk from cardiovascular complications.

The Texas Board of Nursing sent a letter to the RN regarding the issue so then she can have the chance to defend herself. During the hearing, the RN states, the patient was admitted from an LTAC on 7/18/2017. This was a complex patient with multiple diagnoses at admission. This was her fourth shift on the floor and, thus, also her fourth day to use this charting system. She was assigned three (3) patients: one (1) step down and two (2) ICU.

The RN asked for assistance from experienced staff, as she is required to do by Board Rule 217.11 and states the records indicate that another nurse was providing care from 1000 onward.

She also states, infusion would have been the fifth infusion, with other nurses having infused in the same manner as her. The PIV in patient’s right hand was dislodged by the patient who had dementia. The patient’s left hand infiltrated after approximately three (3) days of similar infusion by other nurses, and the RN was the nurse who infiltration and took appropriate measures.

The RN also states, failure to document, if any, was the result of the heavy patient load given to her by more experienced staff, and the lack of support and assistance provided to her. The RN always attempted to document in a timely and thorough manner, as actual situations allowed, with safety to the patient as the utmost concern.

In response to the other accusation, the RN states, she accurately reported to her preceptor that she administered Levemir 60u to the patient. She agrees that documentation was incomplete. She also states this facility did not label IV lines which contributed to the incident. She immediately responded to the alarm, stopped the infusion and made appropriate corrections. The RN states there was no patient harm.

Your license is one of the RN’s most valuable assets. You need to protect your license as well as your right to practice as best as you can. In doing so, a nurse attorney is the one to depend on.

Be sure to find a nurse attorney who’s experienced and knowledgeable in several nurse cases to ensure the best assistance possible.

If you are summoned to appear before a licensing board regarding a disciplinary incident, you will need an experienced nurse attorney who knows how to handle nurse cases.  Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse lawyers who helped various nurses in their cases since 2006. You may contact him 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 for more information or if you want to schedule a private consultation.