A wrong administration of medication and inaccurate medical records can bring a great risk of harm to any patient. It is part of the nurse’s duty to ensure that the patient was administered the correct medication. But if an LVN incorrectly administered the wrong medication and erroneously documented medication, there will be corresponding consequences to it. The Board may summon you and subject you to disciplinary action or even worse than that. But a nurse attorney on the other hand can help you get through such a situation.
At the time of the initial incident, the LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a hospital in Galveston, Texas, and had been in that position for approximately three (3) months.
On or about February 13, 2017, while employed as a Staff Nurse at the said facility, the LVN administered one (1) tablet of Hydrocodone/ APAP 5-325 mg by mouth to a patient, when the physician ordered two (2) tablets of this medication every four (4) hours as needed for pain. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that failure to administer medication
as ordered by a physician could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
On or about March 19, 2017, the LVN failed to change a Fentanyl patch (Duragesic 12 mcg/hr) on a patient as ordered by the physician. The LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that failure to administer medication as ordered by a physician could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
On or about March 29, 2017, the LVN erroneously documented in the Medication Administration Record that she administered Tramadol 50mg to a patient when this medication was not withdrawn from the blister packaging. The LVN’s conduct created an inaccurate medical record and failure to administer medication as ordered by the physician could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
On or about May 9, 2017, again the LVN erroneously documented in the Medication Administration Record that she administered Lyrica 150mg to a patient when this medication was not withdrawn from the blister packaging. The LVN’s conduct created an inaccurate medical record and failure to administer medication as ordered by the physician could have resulted in non-efficacious treatment.
In response to the incidents, the LVN states that the medication errors are all mistakes and human errors that she is ashamed to say she could have possibly done. The LVN states that she remembers being told about and wrote up for medication errors. She also states that she needed more training because she was lost and self-teaching. And also states that she has no excuse for the errors, and thinks that the errors were caused during medication changes. As for false documentation, she states that she did not do it on purpose and must have thought that she administered the medication. Lastly, she states that she did not have any of these issues at her last job that she was at for two years, and that she has not had any issues at her current job.
Due to the LVN’s action, based on the evidence received, the Texas Board of Nursing has sanctioned and put the LVN into disciplinary action. But she failed to hire a nurse attorney to fully defend her case which leads to this decision of the Texas Board of Nursing. Hiring a nurse attorney could have changed the outcome of the case.
If you have questions regarding the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process, you may 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.