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Every practicing RN license holder in the state of Texas is required to follow certain rules and regulations imposed by the government. These laws and statutes were implemented to ensure that the safety of the patients is protected by the state. An RN who commits any violation can place her RN License in jeopardy. The Texas Board of Nursing has the authority to revoke or suspend an RN license in the country for as long as there is a justifiable reason. Failure to hire a nurse attorney could lead to RN license suspension.

On or about October 4, 2016, while employed in a medical center in Fort Worth, the RN failed to completely and accurately document in the medical record of a patient. She documented  that  she completed  an assessment and provided discharge instructions to the patient that were completed by another nurse,  and  failed  to  ensure  that  the  discharge  documentation   included  the patient  and discharging nurse’s signatures.  Her conduct resulted in incomplete and inaccurate medical records and exposed the patients to a risk of harm from clinical care decisions based upon incomplete and inaccurate assessment information.

The RN was given the chance to defend her case. She states that at 8:30am on said date, she  performed  a head-to-toe physical assessment, assessed for pain, and cleaned and changed the incision dressings,  which she documented. She further states that at 12: 15 pm, she instructed the patient on how to clean her wounds at home, monitor for signs and symptoms of infection, and refrain from heavy lifting.

The RN also states that at 1:30pm,  the physician  came to the unit and gave her verbal discharge  orders and for the patient to follow-up with the physician in two weeks.  She says that she then went to the patient’s room and told her that the physician had ordered discharge.   She states that she told the patient to give her thirty minutes to gather discharge instructions and supplies,  and that she will come back to provide  instructions  and remove  the IV. The RN states that at this time the patient became upset and began crying because she was not able to see the physician before discharge.   She further states that she paged the physician and asked the charge nurse to assist her with the patient’s discharge.

The accused RN states that at 2:10pm, she saw both the physician and charge nurse enter the patient’s room, and at 3:00pm she saw the charge nurse taking the patient away in a wheelchair. She adds that the charge nurse provided the patient with discharge instructions, removed the patient’s IV, and sent the patient on her way home.

Unfortunately, the Texas BON was found guilty of her deeds. She was disciplined and her RN license was suspended. She did not hire a skilled nurse attorney to fully defend her case which led to this decision by the Texas BON.

Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of nurse attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.