Accusations are stressful issues for an RN or LVN, except when a nurse attorney assists you against the case. The Texas Board of Nurses is responsible for all hearings against RNs and LVNs undergoing a case that may revoke suspend or only discipline their license. Take note that nurse attorneys can also defend a nurse’s license against accusations.
This is the story of an RN who has been disciplined when she was accused of falsifying documents.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Lake Jackson and had been in that position for approximately four years and one month.
On or about March 6, 2015, the RN failed to complete a skilled nursing visit for a patient, as scheduled. She also falsified skilled nursing notes for the patient, in that she documented an assessment she did not perform. Additionally, the RN falsified the patient’s signature on her paperwork.
The RN’s conduct was deceptive, created an inaccurate medical record, and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation for further care. Also, her conduct unnecessarily exposed the patient to the risk of harm from possible undetected complications.
During the hearing, the RN states she called the patient on March 6th to set up a time they could meet, but the patient was unable to keep the appointment because she had a previously scheduled doctor appointment. She further states it was the last day of recertification, which meant that if the patient was unable to be seen, she would have to be discharged and readmitted to home health services.
The RN states the patient did not want to be discharged and so agreed to be re-certified over the phone. She asked the patient pertinent questions for recertification and had the patient’s verbal permission to sign her name at the end of the chart. The RN felt she was preventing the patient from being discharged from home health services, and this was an isolated incident.
However, without the proper help from a good defense nurse attorney, the RN lost the case and she was disciplined and suspended.
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the RN and her license to disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled nurse attorney, had the RN hired one. Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced nurse attorneys in Texas, Yong J. An. He has assisted numerous nursing license cases since 2006. You may contact him by dialing (832)-428-5679 if you wish to learn more information should you undergo accusations or any other case that may affect your license.