Every administered medication of patients should be accurately and completely document, also it is very important that all medication should be administered to the patients correctly. But if an RN made a mistake in administering the medication and failed to document the administration of the medication, he/she will be facing disciplinary action from the Board. If this happens, an RN should seek help from a nurse attorney.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Longview, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) week.
An incident happened on or about February 21, 2020, through February 22, 2020, the RN withdrew Fentanyl 2mg vials from the medication dispensing system for the patient but failed to document and/or accurately and completely document the administration of the medication in the patient’s Medication Administration Record (MAR) and/or Nurses’ Notes. Furthermore, the RN informed his supervisor he would retrieve the Fentanyl vial from the trash and scan it, but actually, he scanned a new Fentanyl vial and back timed the documentation by eight (8) hours. The RN’s 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.
On or about February 21, 2020, through February 22, 2020, Respondent withdrew Fentanyl Drip 500mcg from the medication dispensing system for the patient but failed to document and/or accurately and completely document the administration of the medication in the patient’s Medication Administration Record (MAR) and/or Nurses’ Notes in that, Respondent left blank fields and documented erroneous values and illegible notes. Respondent’s conduct was likely to injure the patient, in that subsequent caregivers would rely on his documentation to further medicate the patient, which could result in an overdose. Additionally, Respondent’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the incident, the RN states that at the end of his shift, he asked the charge nurse if he had any unaccounted medication scans. The RN explains the charge nurse informed him that he failed to scan a Fentanyl from earlier in the shift. The RN relates he only pulled one (1) 100meg Fentanyl vial that night, and that he told the charge nurse he administered it hours earlier but would go back to the patient’s room and get the empty vial from the trash; however, the trash had already been emptied. The RN states he asked a senior registered nurse what to do and was informed to pull another Fentanyl from Pyxis. The RN relates the registered nurse stayed at the Pyxis while he scanned the Fentanyl in the patient’s room, back-timed it, and then returned it to the Pyxis. The RN added that per his training, he scanned the infusion syringe, and the form in question was reviewed and co-signed by another registered nurse who made no mention of any blank fields, errors, or illegibility.
The Texas Board of Nursing has received the information regarding the incident and has produced evidence that may subject the RN to disciplinary action pursuant to Section 301.452(b)(10),(12)&(13), Texas Occupation Code.
The RN could have been in a different situation if he had consulted and hired a nurse attorney to represent him in court. Having a nurse attorney could yield a positive result for the RN during or after proceedings. Every nurse should take to consider having a nurse attorney for any cases.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of RN License Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.