The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN and LVN in Texas. It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the state of Texas. Any RN or LVN who is guilty of violating state laws and issues from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) may be subjected to penalties or fines if not properly defended by a nurse attorney. As a matter of fact, the RN license and LVN license can even be suspended or revoked.
On or about October 16, 2018, while employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical center in Dallas, the RN failed to enter into the computer system a verbal order received from the physician to discontinue suction for the chest tube of a patient and to place the chest tube on water seal and she also failed to ensure that such order had been entered into the computer system by the physician.
Subsequently, the nurse on the following shift noted that the patient’s chest tube was on water seal, but had no order or documentation in the medical record to that effect.
The RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate and incomplete medical r unnecessarily exposed the patient to the risk of harm in that subsequent caregivers did not have accurate and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
On or about December 6, 2018, the same RN failed to enter into the computer system a verbal order received from the advanced practice registered nurse to “de-line” the patient. In addition, the RN failed to ensure that such order had been entered into the computer system by the advanced practice registered nurse prior to the RN removing the patient’s nasogastric tube, Dobhoff tube, and Foley catheter from the patient; the nasogastric tube and Foley catheter had to be replaced the following shift.
The RN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate and incomplete medical record and unnecessarily exposed the patient to the risk of harm in that subsequent caregivers did not have accurate and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
In response to the incident, the RN states that she was not appropriately trained for the position that the hospital put her in. She states that two physicians were in the room with her and the patient, when one physician instructed the RN to change the chest tube to water seal due to the patient’s low chest tube output, but neither physician entered the order into the computer.
The RN states that knowing when to check the computer to see that verbal orders had been entered correctly, and knowing how and when to enter verbal orders into the computer, were not covered during orientation. She also states that she was never trained on how to communicate with providers.
In response to the other incident, the RN states that she was speaking with the nurse practitioner in the patient’s room and the nurse practitioner said the patient was doing well, so they could take out both the nasogastric (NG) tube, the surgically placed Dobhoff tube, and the Foley catheter.
The RN clarified that she wanted the surgically placed Dobhoff tube removed and was told yes. She states that she was busy and did not remove the tubes immediately. The RN states that later that day she checked with the nurse practitioner about the verbal order because it was still not on the computer. Respondent states that the nurse practitioner told her she would put in the orders; as the nurse practitioner was sitting at the computer, she believed her.
The RN states she entered a remove Foley order into the computer and then removed the Foley catheter from the patient. She states that after the other tubes had been removed, two physicians entered the room and did not seem happy that the NG tube and Dobhoff tube were out.
Because of the incident, the Texas Board of Nursing investigated the nurse and suspended his license.
However, without valid evidence and an expert nurse attorney to defend her, the RN was disciplined.
This is just one of the many causes why every nurse in Texas is expected to act with prudence in practicing the profession. Any form of gross negligence, disobedience, or any form of offense on the part of an RN or LVN is never excused.
Any case can be defended, as long as there is a skilled nurse attorney ready to assist you during the hearing before the Board of Nursing. The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction regarding cases that may affect an RN or LVN’s license from suspension, disciplinary action or revocation.
The RN lost the case simply because she failed to find an effective and efficient nurse attorney. Avoid committing the same mistake she did. Find the right nurse attorney in Texas to help you with your needs. Contact nurse attorney Yong J. An directly by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 for a discreet consultation.