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Documentations have been a signature specialty of a nurse attorney when handling cases for some nurses. However, some nurses tend to forget this fact because they really felt like they should be responsible even if they never intended to commit such an error.

On or about November 11, 2018, an RN from Dallas allegedly failed to include vital signs, Magnesium Sulfate assessments for neurological status, and respiratory and reflex checks, as ordered by a physician. She subsequently admitted that she did not conduct Magnesium Sulfate assessments for neurological status and reflex assessments from 0330 to 0600 on December 3, 2018, due to the patient being asleep. Her conduct exposed the patient to a risk of harm from potentially adverse complications of undetected and untreated changes in status related to magnesium toxicity.

This issue was filed as a complaint and sent to the Texas Board of Nursing. The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction in all cases that may affect the status of an RN or LVN’s license in the future. But they advise nurses to attend a hearing first before placing the sentence, which the RN attended for her career’s security.

During the hearing, the RN states that from 2400 to 0300, she repeatedly entered and exited the patient’s room multiple times to provide care. She states that at 0300 the patient asked for sleeping medication, but the patient fell asleep before receiving any. She states that from 0330 to 0600, she continued her shift without incident. The RN states that during this time, the patient was sleeping well so she did not wake her to conduct the Magnesium Sulfate neurological status and reflex assessments. She states that the patient’s respiratory checks were electronically monitored via pulse oximeter. The RN states that there were technical problems with the electronic monitoring feed so the patient’s vital signs and respiratory reading were manually entered into the clinical record. The RN states that she observed and assessed the patient’s gait, balance, and neurological status every time the patient went to the bathroom.

As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her RN license to 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.