A nurse is expected to give the best care for patients and also expected to appropriately follow a physician’s order. Any missed order or failure to follow a physician’s order can bring great harm to any patient. This can result in poor recovery result for any patient. If an RN is involved in such conduct, remember that a nurse attorney can help with such a case.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed at a hospital in San Angelo, Texas, and had been in that position for eleven (11) months.
On or about September 22, 2019, the RN failed to document the patient’s increased complaints of pain, and her interventions, in the patient’s medical record. Further, the RN failed to notify the physician and/or Director of Nurses (DON) of the patient’s increased pain. The patient was diagnosed with a Left hip fracture two days later. The RN’s conduct created an incomplete medical record and unnecessarily exposed the patient to uncontrolled pain and a risk of harm from complications associated with hip fracture.
On or about September 22, 2019, and September 23, 2019, the RN failed to perform shift and pain assessments, and/or failed to document her shift and pain assessments for the patient in the patient’s medical record. The RN’s conduct created an incomplete medical record and was likely to injure the resident in that subsequent caregivers would not have complete information to base their future care decisions.
In response to the incidents, the RN states that on the early morning of September 22, she was assisting a CNA in providing incontinent care for the patient. The RN states that as soon as the resident woke up, she yelled out not to touch her, as if she were having a bad dream. The RN states she asked the patient if she was in pain, but the patient did not answer her. The RN states she tried to console the patient and told her she was just trying to change her brief. The RN states she never opened her eyes or verbalized she was in pain, but she gave the patient pain medication anyway, based on her behavior. The RN states that the patient went back to sleep after the incontinent care was completed. The RN also states she told the oncoming RN at shift change, what happened with the patient during the night.
As a result, the RN’s actions put her into disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nursing. She failed to hire a Texas BON attorney to fully defend her case and has led to this decision by the Texas Board of Nursing. Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for nurse attorney Yong.