Complaints about patient abuse may put your license at risk. Issues such as this may greatly affect your future career, but only if you failed to hire a nurse attorney for the case. There are some RNs and LVNs who missed their chances to get their license saved from disciplinary action or revocation just because they couldn’t hire an experienced nurse attorney to defend them.
On or about April 17, 2020, while employed as an LVN at a hospital in Austin, Texas, LVN failed to timely intervene and notify a physician when a postoperative patient under her care had a change in condition. The patient’s bedside monitor log showed that multiple alarms were provided for high respiratory rate and low oxygen saturation but were silenced. Additionally, LVN failed to provide Basic Life Support measures including, checking the patient’ s pulse and calling a code, when the patient stopped breathing and became pulseless. The patient went into respiratory and cardiac arrest. Another staff member noted the patient was in distress, a code was called, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. LVN’s conduct resulted in a delay in emergency treatment for the patient that was needed to prevent further complications, including possible demise.
In response, LVN states that basic life support measures were provided, which included taking vital signs every five minutes. LVN states that all vitals were normal according to the monitor. LVN states that she grabbed an artificial airway which was taken by the physician to ventilate the patient’s airway and at the same time LVN took over chest compressions.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(3)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
However, without valid evidence to defend her side of the story, the LVN lost the case. Furthermore, the LVN failed to hire a Texas nurse attorney to help her with her case. Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined the LVN’s license.
Do not be stressed or anxious if you find yourself in a similar situation as that of the LVN mentioned above. All you need to do is to find the right RN/LVN license attorney who can help you in the case. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN/LVN license attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 300 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679.