Holding an RN license in Texas comes with certain obligations and other responsibilities. If you want to continue practicing in the nursing profession, one of the important things that you need to do is to comply with the rules and regulations set by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Every RN in this state is subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Nursing. Whenever there are administrative complaints against RN, the Board will have the authority to hear and decide the merits of the cases. Every nurse also needs a nurse attorney for better defense in their case.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Abilene, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years.
On or about March 2019 through April 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse, the RN misappropriated Fentanyl belonging to the facility and patients thereof or failed to take precautions to prevent such misappropriation. The RN’s conduct was likely to defraud the facility and patients thereof of the cost of the medications.
On or about March 2019 through April 2019, the RN showed a pattern of inaccurate documentation in that he admitted to a large number of transactions with cancellations and inconsistencies with documentation within patient records. The RN’s conduct resulted in inaccurate medical records and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have accurate information on which to base their care decisions.
On or about April 24, 2019, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that he admitted to a substance abuse problem and tampering with Fentanyl vials. The RN’s condition could have affected his ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in patient’s conditions, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
In response, the RN takes responsibility for his actions. The RN states he did take and use Fentanyl. He states he started by using waste from sedation of patients undergoing procedures and his use quickly escalated to addiction. the RN states he did document extra doses which were not given to the patient and used the extra to maintain his addiction. The RN states he also frequently canceled transactions for fear of the Fentanyl count being inaccurate as well as taking vials, removing the Fentanyl, and refilling the vial with sterile saline in a sterile fashion. The RN states that at no time did any patient under his care receive any of the salines he replaced in the vials. He states he would document extra doses on following patients and discard the vial with saline.
The evidence against the RN was strong. At the same time, he was not able to properly defend his case in court. As a result, his nursing license was placed under disciplinary action.
Avoid a similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right nurse attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 200 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs over the past 16 years. You can call him at (832)-428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.