Documentations 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.
One such incident occurred on or about August 30, 2015, at Fort Worth, Texas when an LVN saved blister packs from a previously administered medication. Afterward, she scanned it at the proper medication administration times. The purpose of this action was to falsely document the administration to the Medication Administration Records and Nurse’s Notes.
The said medication was intended for 7 patients, whom she documented to have been administered with proper medication at the right schedule. This is a highly deceptive action which may cause incorrect treatment for the caregivers in the future. Caregivers typically follow the nurse’s notes, and any inconsistency may affect their performance and the patient’s condition in the future treatments to come.
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 LVN or LVN’s license in the future. But they advise nurses to attend a hearing first before placing the sentence, which the LVN attended for her career’s security.
During the defense, she stated that she was requested to do this by her superiors. She added that this is a common practice that she observed from her peers during her time as an LVN in Fort Worth. She admitted that she saved the blister packs for documentation, and realized that her actions could cause a violation.
As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her LVN 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.