Being an LVN in Texas is not an easy thing to do. There are so many things that you need to take into consideration if you want to continue using your nursing license. The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) can suspend your LVN license whenever you are found liable for any violation. As a matter of fact, the Board can even order for the revocation of your license with finality. When this happens, you need to seek immediate help from a nurse attorney to help protect and defend your LVN license.
Do not worry because the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) always conducts a hearing of all the cases before imposing any punishment or fine to the erring nurse. During the proceedings before the Board, the LVN is given an opportunity to be heard by defending herself. The assistance of a nurse attorney should also be one of the top priorities.
One perfect example of this is about an LVN. At the time of the initial incident, the LVN was employed as a Staff Nurse in a medical center in Houston, Texas, and had been in that position for more than 6 years already.
On or about May 28, 2017, the LVN failed to timely administer Intravenous (IV) Dextrose 50% to a patient following the blood glucose of 69 mg/dl at 6:29 am. She rechecked the blood glucose at 9:41 am which was 66 mg/dl, and administered IV Dextrose 50% at 9:45 am.
Additionally, the LVN failed to re-assess the blood glucose of the patient six hours after administering the Dextrose 50%. Her conduct exposed the patient unnecessarily to a risk of harm from delayed treatment and of undetected and untreated drops in blood glucose levels.
On the same day, the LVN withdrew Tylenol #3 from the medication dispensing system for the same patient, but failed to document and completely and accurately document the administration of the medication in the patient’s Medication Administration Record (MAR) and nurses’ notes.
The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patient which could result in an overdose. Additionally, her conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the cases filed against her, the LVN states that she wasn’t on the unit or clocked in during this time. She indicates that the night nurse was the primary caregiver during this time, checked the blood glucose at 6:29 am, and requested D50 from the pharmacy, which was sent at 6:47 am.
The LVN relates that she clocked at 6:49, but didn’t assume primary care of the patient during this time, wasn’t notified of the low blood glucose or the need for intervention upon the start of her shift. The LVN adds that when she logged into the hospital, she realized that the blood sugar wasn’t completed, checked it, it was 66 mg/dl at 9:40 am, and she administered 1 amp of D50.
The LVN states that the patient didn’t have a diagnosis of diabetes, and no harm was done. She indicates that the unit didn’t have a tech, and her other patient had fresh post-op surgical site bleeding. She explains that she administered the Tylenol #3 on time, and placed a note in the chart to document it. The LVN further adds that it was a documentation error that has been resolved with her manager and pharmacy.
Unfortunately, the series of events led to the decision of the Texas Board of Nursing to suspend her license.
Avoid the similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right nurse attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Consult with Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An today if you have any questions about your disciplinary process by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 day, night or weekends.