Being a nurse and seeing patients recover with such great results is very rewarding to nurses. However, some nurses tend to do their duties in an inappropriate manner. Poor nursing care can be a result of overworked, long working hours, stress, and many more which are common in nursing. But it should not be tolerated, as nurses are expected to give the proper care needed by the patients. Those nurses who neglect to do their duties properly are sanctioned by the Board. This case scenario for nurses should be dealt with properly with the help of a nurse attorney.
At the time of the incident, an RN was employed as a Charge Nurse at a hospital in Denton, Texas, and had been in that position for ten (10) years and two (2) months.
On or about December 13, 2017, while employed as a Charge Nurse, the RN inappropriately took a break during the passing of the breakfast trays and without notifying staff of where she was and failed to ensure that the patient, who is diabetic was timely served breakfast after she was administered insulin at 7 am and Metformin at 8 am. In addition, the RN failed to monitor the patient while he was eating breakfast in his room. The patient has dysphagia and is at risk for aspiration. The RN’s conduct exposed the patients to the risk of harm in that significant changes in the patient’s status may have gone undetected and prevented a timely intervention.
On or about December 13, 2017, the RN abandoned twenty-two (22) patients, leaving them without adequate nursing care when she left the building around 9 am without giving a report to another nurse. Instead, the RN walked out of the building, although she was scheduled to work until 6 pm. The RN’s conduct exposed the residents unnecessarily to a risk of harm from a lack of appropriate nursing care.
On or about December 13, 2017, the RN left the building around 9 am without signing the narcotic count after administering Lorazepam to a patient, without documenting Lorazepam administration in the Medication Administration Record (MAR), and without giving the narcotic keys to another nurse. Instead, the RN left the narcotic keys on the nursing desk and walked out of the building. The RN’s conduct resulted in incomplete medical records and was likely to injure the resident from subsequent care decisions made without the benefit of accurate and complete information.
In response to the incidents, the RN stated that on the morning of December 13, 2017, she wasn’t feeling well, was feeling dizzy, and her blood sugar was low. The RN indicates that she took a break for fifteen (15) minutes at the most. The RN relates that she informed the certified medication aide (CMA) where she was, and to come and get her if there were any problems. The RN states that later the CMA came at her about taking a break, and she told her that she would just go home because she was tired of being targeted. The RN indicates that the CMA kept following her, talking, and she told the CMA not to worry about it, that she was under stress and sick, and that she quit. The RN relates that she gave a report saying that everyone was okay. The RN states that she gave the keys, and went home. The RN asserts that she didn’t give any medication. The RN relates that she’s regretful that her employment ended like that, but that working in a hostile environment caused her to react on impulse.
However, without valid evidence to defend her side of the story, the RN lost the case. Furthermore, the RN failed to hire a Texas nurse attorney to help her with her case. Because of this, the Texas Board of Nursing disciplined the RN’s license.
Do not be stressed or anxious if you find yourself in a similar situation as that of the RN mentioned above. All you need to do is to find the right nurse 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 nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 200 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-4579.