As a nurse and being assigned to a certain role, you need to perform or carry out the role as you are expected to do it right. Being a nurse comes with a lot of responsibilities but just one mistake could turn your career upside down. A lot of RNs can’t avoid circumstances of unexpected events but they can avoid further consequences or punishments to happen with the help of a nurse attorney.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in College Station, Texas, and had been in that position for seventeen (17) years.
An incident happened on or about December 26, 2018, the RN withdrew 2mL of Fentanyl from the medication dispensing system of a patient, but failed to document and/or accurately and completely document the administration of the medication in the patients’ Medication Administration Record (MAR) and/or Nurses’ Notes. Additionally, the RN failed to follow the facility’s policy and procedure for wastage of the unused portions of the medications. The RN’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, the RN’s conduct left medications unaccounted for and could have placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response, the RN states the medical records do not show administration by any nurse because this hospital did not have the typical documentation requirements in their system. She states the records are very difficult to track. The RN states she requested the facility to talk with a fellow staff member, who was assigned to the patient so she could confirm that the RN informed her that the Fentanyl needed to be documented since the RN pulled the medication while covering for the said nurse. The RN states the facility refused to question the other staff member and denied the RN the opportunity to speak to her as well.
The following incident that involves the RN caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the RN and her license into disciplinary action. He should have sought assistance from a good nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors or misdemeanors outside or during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for 14 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.