Proper documentation 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 April 7, 2012, while employed in a medical facility in Houston, the RN not only attempted to misappropriate three different drug medications belonging to the facility and patients, she also failed to take precautions to prevent such misappropriation.
Her conduct was likely to defraud the facility and patients of the cost of the medications.
During the dates July 13, 2017 through July 31, 2017, while employed in a healthcare facility in and while participating in the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN), the RN withdrew medication from the medication dispensing system for patients but failed to document and accurately and completely document the administration of the medication in the patients’ Medication Administration Record (MAR) and Nurses’ Notes.
Her conduct was likely to injure the patients, in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation to further medicate the patients, which could result in an overdose. Additionally, the RN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
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.
However, the RN failed to hire an effective nurse attorney to help her defend her side. 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.