It is a nurse’s duty to ensure patients are getting the proper treatment they need in a timely manner. They should also follow the physician’s order and no order should be missed. A missed order could harm a patient. Some RNs tend to miss orders and resulting in unnecessary harm to a patient. If this happens, an RN should be prepared in case he or she will be summoned by the Board for such conduct. An RN can hire a nurse attorney for this matter.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as a Charge Nurse at a medical facility in Waco, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) years.
On or about January 15, 2020, while employed as a Charge Nurse on the kidney transplant progressive care unit at a medical facility in Waco, Texas, RN failed to obtain an order to remove a patient from telemetry monitoring and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) when she obtained an order for Ativan to help calm the patient who was to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the Radiology Department. Subsequently, the patient was removed from telemetry and BiPAP, RN administered a dose of Ativan in the room and another just prior to the MRI and failed to monitor the vital signs and oxygen saturation of the patient. After the MRI the patient was transported back to his room, re-connected to the telemetry monitor and BiPAP, found to be in asystole, and a Code was initiated. The patient was resuscitated, transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), diagnosed with anoxic brain injury, and died two (2) days later. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient by failing to collaborate with the provider to obtain an appropriate order to prevent respiratory complications and undetected changes of condition.
In response, the RN states that the patient had been started on BiPAP that day, was pulling at his tubes and was quite restless. RN indicates the MRI department had called regarding the patient and said it would be best if the patient had something to calm him so he would be still while undergoing the MRI. RN relates she spoke with the Physician Assistant (PA) who ordered a dose of Ativan then and to take an additional dose to MRI to use in case of continued restlessness. RN explains that she administered a dose of Ativan in the room, took him off telemetry, respiratory removed him from BiPAP, and placed oxygen. RN adds at the time it was not a standard practice to leave patients on BiPAP when going off the floor. RN states the patient was still agitated in radiology, and she administered the 2nd dose of Ativan. RN indicates after the MRI, the patient was breathing with a heartbeat on the elevator ride back to his room. RN relates they placed the telemetry leads to resume telemetry, and the respiratory tech replaced the BiPAP. RN explains then telemetry staff called saying the patient was in asystole, she checked his lead placement and confirmed he was in asystole. A Code Blue was called, CPR was initiated, he had a return of spontaneous circulation, but died soon after. RN adds that the PA later said he wasn’t aware of the patient being on BiPAP which had been added earlier in the day.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(3)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
Unfortunately, the Texas Board of Nursing found her guilty of her deeds. Her RN license was subjected to disciplinary action. She did not hire a skilled Texas BON attorney to fully defend her case which led to this decision by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Make sure that you will not make the same mistake as the RN mentioned above in her case before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Contact a Texas nurse attorney today who can provide you with a confidential consultation and evaluate your case and counsel you on the best steps to take. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for 16 years and represented over 200 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact Mr. An by calling or texting him 24/7 directly at (832) 428-5679.
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