Complaints, allegations, or accusations were not easy, especially that you worked hard to get your RN license. RNs must be knowledgeable on how to face complaints and if they are to be put into disciplinary action by the Board. They should know how to defend their licenses and careers as well. They should also know that a nurse attorney is the one who can help them in such scenarios. One of these examples is an RN in Garland, Texas.
On or about April 18, 2018, while employed as a Nurse Anesthetist at a hospital in Garland, Texas, and providing care to patients. The RN inappropriately administered intravenous Morphine 8mg to a pediatric patient, in addition to other sedating medication; the Morphine was given over 15 minutes, in too high of a dose and too quickly for a five (5) year old patient weighing 2.3 kg. Subsequently, the patient arrived at the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) unresponsive, experienced airway obstruction, and required airway support and seven (7) doses of Narcan for reversal of the narcotic sedation, before being admitted to the hospital for observation. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from adverse effects from an excessive dosage of sedating narcotic medication, including respiratory depression.
In response to the incident, the RN states that the patient appeared resistant to medications, and had an elevated heart rate and blood pressure during the start of the case, seeming to be in pain. He also states that he does not perceive 8 mg of Morphine to be an excessive dose for a five (5) year old child. He adds that the patient had spontaneous ventilation throughout most of the dental procedure, and did not require re-intubation at any point in the post-operative phase.
The RN also states that when he left the child’s bedside in the PACU, spontaneous ventilation was maintained with satisfactory oxygenation. He also states that in his professional opinion the patient had a case of delayed emergence; and adds that he has performed thousands of pediatric cases without any complications.
As a result of this incident, the RN has been sanctioned. This decision was based on the violations made by the RN caused pursuant to Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code. He is under disciplinary action.
This decision of the Board could have yielded a different result if the RN had asked for help from a nurse attorney in defending him against the case he is in and should not have undergone disciplinary action.
If ever you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.