The meticulous administration of medications is a cornerstone of nursing practice, ensuring patient safety and optimal outcomes. In situations where nurses face allegations related to medication administration errors and documentation discrepancies, the expertise of a nurse attorney is instrumental in navigating the legal landscape. For the RN involved in this case, seeking the guidance of a nurse attorney is crucial for understanding the potential ramifications and legal implications of the allegations.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Allen, Texas, and had been in that position for ten (10) months.
On or about September 23, 2021, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Allen, Texas, RN administered 4mg of Ativan to the patient who had a documented Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) score of sixteen (16) in the medication administration record (MAR), when only 2mg was required and ordered by the physician. When the oncoming nurse addressed the situation, RN subsequently changed the CIWA score to twenty-six (26) in her nursing notes, to reflect a 4mg requirement. RN did not change the patient’s CIWA score in the MAR, resulting in a discrepancy. RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent care givers would rely on her documentation for further care.
In response, RN states that, while working as a Behavioral Health Nursing Supervisor, she correctly administered Ativan pursuant to physician’s orders. The CIWA score of 16 reflected the patient’s clinical status at admission. The patient’s condition quickly deteriorated, increasing her CIWA score to 26 and necessitating the administration of 4mg of Ativan. Respondent states that she accurately documented the change in the patient’s CIWA score in nursing notes. Respondent states that she did not intend to create a discrepancy in the clinical record.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(14) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(1)(D) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C),(4),(6)(A)&(6)(H).
The Texas Board of Nursing gave the RN enough time to defend the complaints filed against her. However, there was a failure on the RN’s part to find the right RN/LVN license attorney to handle her case. The negligence of the RN/LVN license attorney led to the decision of the Texas BON to place the RN’s license under disciplinary action.
Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN/LVN nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse attorneys who helped represent more than 500 nurse cases for the past 17 years. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation regarding any accusations from the Texas BON.