An RN is expected to do their job right including intervention and notifying the physician about the status of the patient. Accurate and complete documentation is also part of their responsibility as a nurse. Any form of negligence on their responsibilities can cause harm to the patients and could put their license in danger. But a nurse attorney can help them fight the cases filed against an RN.
At the time of the incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in Laredo, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) month.
On or about October 22, 2019, through October 24, 2019, the LVN failed to intervene when she noted that the Patient had bleeding from his penis and that there was blood in his Foley Catheter drainage bag. Additionally, the LVN failed to notify the patient’s physician and family of the change in condition and failed to document the finding in the patient’s medical record. Subsequently, the patient was sent to see a urologist, whereupon his arrival he was unresponsive, and Emergency Medical Services was called. The patient was transported to the hospital where he was intubated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with urosepsis and septic shock. The patient expired the following day from hemorrhagic shock. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from lack of appropriate nursing and medical care, including possible demise.
In regards to the incident, the LVN reports that the patient had a catheter and an open area on his behind. The LVN states that she had to change the dressing on each shift that she worked. The LVN reports that she had to change his brief and clean him and that it looked like the patient had been lying in feces for quite some time because it was always dried to his skin. The LVN states that she needed to do this before changing the dressing. Respondent states that the catheter was taut and covered with feces each time she changed the patient. The LVN reports that the aid that worked the shift with her never changed him. The LVN states that when she changed the patient there would be blood coming from the penis, about a teaspoon full, and that she assumed this was because the catheter was never secured to the patient’s leg. The LVN states that the tubing always ran through the patient’s pant leg and then hung on the bed.
She additionally states that the patient would tell her that the catheter was pulling and that it hurt. She also states that the patient was alert, and never had a fever indicating infection. The LVN states that when she arrived for her shift, she was never notified through a report from the day nurse that anything was wrong with the patient. The LVN states that she is not sure if the day shift was ever aware anything was wrong with the patient. Lastly, the LVN states that she should have not assumed that the bleeding was caused by the catheter tubing being taunt. The LVN states that she takes responsibility for her actions.
As a result, the LVN’s misconduct became the reason for her discipline. The disciplinary action was set by the Texas Board of Nursing as per LVN’s violation. This could have been on a different result if the LVN could have hired a nurse attorney for her defense but has failed to do so.
If you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process, you can contact the Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.