It’s best to seek the help of a nurse attorney when facing different complaints and allegations. However, some nurses tend to face these results instead without thinking that nurse attorneys are always reliable for matters such as these.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was contracted as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at a hospital facility in College Station, Texas, and had been in that position for approximately five (5) years.
On or about October 6, 2018, while employed, the RN failed to accurately document the administration of Fentanyl in the anesthesia record of a patient. Additionally, the RN failed to properly waste the unused portion of the medication. The RN originally documented he had used the entire syringe of Fentanyl 5mL when he actually only used 3mL during the patient’s procedure. The RN then handed the rest of the Fentanyl (2mL) to the recovery nurse to use, however, she only used 1mL. The RN wasted the remaining Fentanyl without a witness and changed his original documentation on the Anesthesia Record. The RN’s conduct caused confusion, created an inaccurate medical record and placed the pharmacy in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response, the RN states he had already checked out and charged the patient for a 5ml vial of fentanyl and had not needed to administer all of it during the case. The RN explains when handing over the care of the patient to the recovery room nurse, he advised her that he had 2ml of fentanyl remaining from the case and offered her the remainder so that it could be given to the patient if needed to provide continuity of care and address the patient’s pain level in the recovery room. The RN states he advised the nurse he had already documented the fentanyl had been checked out of the pyxis if she wanted the remainder. The RN claims he advised her to let him know if and how much was needed/given so the anesthesia record could be corrected to reflect that. The RN states there may have been and appears as though a communication error occurred as to what he was suggesting we do with the fentanyl in question. At any point in time, the nurse could have simply declined to take the fentanyl and he would have immediately reflected a narcotic waste. The RN notes it’s obvious there was a communication and documentation error that occurred. Shortly after these events, the operating room supervisor approached him and handed the fentanyl back to him, and advised him to waste it. The RN immediately wasted it but realized that is where the communication broke down again as he realized he wasted the fentanyl in haste and had not secured anyone to witness the waste with him and the recovery room nurse had not documented any waste either. The RN states the anesthesia record was amended/corrected so that full and proper documentation would be in place. The RN also states he contacted the pharmacy and advised them as to what had occurred.
As a result, the RN was disciplined by the Board. She could have not received such discipline if only she was able to provide a good defense attorney for herself. Therefore, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her LVN license to a disciplinary action instead.
If you also received a complaint regarding a case filed against you, you should hire a nurse attorney immediately before it’s too late. Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse lawyers who helped various nurses in their cases since 2006. You may contact him 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 for more information or if you want to schedule a private consultation.