The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has the jurisdiction to hear and decide cases involving the practice of professional nursing in Texas. Any RN or LVN found guilty of violating the state laws and regulations may be subjected to a disciplinary case if not properly defended by a nurse attorney.
At the time of the incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital facility in Pasadena, Texas, and had been in that position for four (4) years and one (1) month.
On or about December 4, 2013, through December 12, 2013, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN withdrew one (1) 2mg vial of Hydromorphone for Patient 1 and one (1) tablet of Tramadol 50mg for Patient 2, but failed to document and/or completely and accurately document the administration of the medications in the patients’ Medication Administration Records and/or nurses’ notes. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patients in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patients which could result in an overdose. Additionally, the RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In regards to the incident, the RN neither denies nor admits it.
However, the RN failed to hire an effective nurse attorney to help her defend her side. As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her RN license in disciplinary action. It’s too bad that she failed to hire a nurse attorney for assistance, knowing that she had every reason to defend herself in the first place. Her defense would have gotten better if she actually sought legal consultation from a Texas nurse attorney as well.
So if you’re facing a complaint from the Board, it’s best to seek legal advice first. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.