The maintenance of professional boundaries is fundamental to the ethical practice of nursing, ensuring the integrity of the nurse-patient relationship. In such instances, a nurse attorney plays a crucial role in helping the accused nurse navigate the legal complexities surrounding professional conduct. A nurse attorney can meticulously examine the details of the alleged breach of professional boundaries, evaluate the accuracy of the documentation, and craft a strategic defense to address the accusations.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an RN at a healthcare facility in Beaumont, Texas, and had been in that position for ten (10) years and six (6) months.
On or about December 14, 2021, through December 16, 2021, while employed as an RN at a healthcare facility in Beaumont, Texas, RN violated professional boundaries by providing private duty nursing care to a patient in her own home while on-duty as an employee at the healthcare facility. Additionally, RN failed to completely and accurately document the patient’s medical records; in that she failed to document when the patient traveled outside of her (patient’s) home and received care at RN’s home. RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and exposed the patient to risk of harm in that it could have resulted in confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the patient.
In response, RN states nursing care was provided to the patient at her private residence at the request of the patient’s mother. RN also states the office staff at the healthcare facility were aware nursing care was being provided by RN at her private residence.
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)(D) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A), (1)(B),(1)(C)&(6)(D).
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing decided to place her RN license under 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 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. He is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 17 years and represented over 500 nurses before the Texas BON. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.