Having to deal with complaint cases and be disciplined by the Board is quite difficult for RNs to handle by themselves. That is why they need someone to help them go through such difficulties. A nurse attorney is a good defense for such cases. Suspension and revocation of license could be impossible with the help of a nurse attorney.
An incident happened on or about June 6, 2018, while employed as an Emergency Department (ED) Staff Nurse at a hospital in Georgetown Texas. The RN failed to verify that the intravenous (IV) bag of medication that another nurse handed her was the ordered medication, Levophed. Subsequently, she added the IV bag to the IV pump of the patient and started the infusion. It was later discovered that instead of Levophed, the IV bag was actually a Cardene. The RN unnecessarily exposed the patient to a risk of harm from adverse effects of Cardene administration, including hypotension and tachycardia.
After the incident, the RN states that she found the nurse for a report at the desk and was asked to take the patient up to the ICU. She asked the nurse for a brief synopsis of the patient including what drips that patient was on before taking the patient up to ICU. While in the room the RN states that she noticed the Levophed bag was almost empty and asked the nurse if she could bring a replacement bag. The other nurse pulled another bag from the Pyxis, which the RN trusted was Levophed, told her it was scanned, and she states that she replaced the empty bag on the same pump and tubing. It wasn’t until several hours later, around noon that the RN was notified that the medication handed her was Cardene.
Therefore, the RN was put to trial and the Board decided to take disciplinary action against the RN. The decision made by the Board was based on the violations made by the RN pursuant to Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code. Wherein the violations are stated in the following violation:
Section 301.452 (b) – A person is subject to denial of a license or to disciplinary action under this subchapter for:
(10) – unprofessional conduct in the practice of nursing that is likely to deceive, defraud, or injure a patient or the public;
(13) – failure to care adequately for a patient or to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable nursing practice in a manner that, in the board’s opinion, exposes a patient or other person unnecessarily to risk of harm.
In compliance with the law, the RN shall comply with all conditions that are agreed by both the Board and the RN. Failure to comply with all terms and conditions, the RN will be subjected to investigation and disciplinary sanction, including possible revocation of my license(s) and/or privileges to practice nursing in the State of Texas, as a consequence of noncompliance.
This could be avoided only if the RN had hired a nurse attorney for assistance and defense against the said incident and could have yielded a different result.
If ever you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.