The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN and LVN in Texas. It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the state of Texas. Any RN or LVN who is guilty of violating state laws and issues from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) may be subjected to penalties or fines if not properly defended by a Fort Worth nurse attorney. As a matter of fact, the RN license and LVN license can even be suspended or revoked.
On or about January 18, 2011, while employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in a medical facility in Fort Worth, the LVN misappropriated Flexeril, Tramadol, and Hydrocodone, belonging to the facility or patients thereof, or failed to take precautions to prevent such misappropriation. Her conduct was likely to defraud the facility and patients of the cost of the medications. Unlawful possession of Hydrocodone is prohibited by Chapter 481 of the Texas Health and Safety Code (Controlled Substances Act).
Subsequently, the LVN lacked fitness to practice nursing in that she exhibited signs of impaired behavior while on duty including: incoherent and slurred speech, inability to stay awake, inability to stand on her own, and a lethargic demeanor. Her condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in patients’ conditions, and could have affected her ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
On the same day, the LVN allegedly engaged in the intemperate use of Hydrocodone in that she admitted to a Cleburne Police Officer after being arrested at the facility that she had ingested at least three (3) Hydrocodone pills prior to her arrest. Unlawful possession of Hydrocodone is prohibited by Chapter 481 of the Texas Health and Safety Code (Controlled Substances Act). The use of Hydrocodone by a Licensed Vocational Nurse, while subject to call or duty, could impair the nurse’s ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in the patients condition, and could impair the nurse’s ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patient in potential danger.
In response to the incident, the LVN states she has a long history of a pinched sciatic nerve where the pain was intense and her doctor prescribed her Hydrocodone. She states she became addicted to the hydrocodone and her addiction is what caused her to misappropriate the medications from rehabilitation center and Skilled Nursing on or around January 18, 2011.
The LVN states on February 27, 2011, she had surgery to correct the pinched sciatic nerve, and on June 17, 2011, she was admitted for a thirty days rehabilitation program and was satisfactorily discharged on July 18, 2011.
The LVN states she has been clean since that time and she attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings through November 2011. She states she knows what she did was wrong and takes full responsibility for her actions.
However, due to lack of evidence and an expert Fort Worth nurse attorney to defend her, the LVN was suspended and disciplined.
This is just one of the many cases why every nurse in Texas is expected to act with prudence in practicing the profession. Gross negligence, disobedience or any form of offense on the part of a RN or LVN is never excused.
Any type of accusations can be defended, as long as there is a skilled Fort Worth nurse attorney ready to assist you during the hearing before the Board of Nursing. The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction regarding cases that may affect an RN or LVN’s license from suspension, disciplinary action or revocation.
The LVN lost the case simply because she failed to find an effective and efficient Fort Worth nurse attorney. Avoid committing the same mistake she did. Find the right nurse attorney in Texas to help you with your needs. Contact nurse attorney Yong J. An directly by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 for a discreet consultation.