An experienced nurse attorney has surely helped a lot of RNs and LVNs when it comes to cases that may lead toward disciplinary action. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that an LVN committed on January 19, 2009, was one of those examples.
On or about the said date, while working at a hospital in Houston, Texas, the LVN administered medications assigned to a certain patient but was administered to a different patient. As a result, the blood pressure of the patient who received the medication started to drop. Consequently, the patient required fluid resuscitation for further treatment.
The resulting action caused the blood drop of the patient and was advised to take legal action regarding the matter as it may have caused further injury to the patient. The Texas Board of Nursing has full jurisdiction over all cases regarding errors committed by an RN or LVN. Thus, the LVN was called by the Board to defend against the case.
She stated that she mistakenly applied blood pressure medications to the wrong patient within a room for four patients. Upon noticing her error, she immediately notified a charge nurse of the situation, which then notified the physician. The physician then instructed another nurse to monitor the patient.
Afterward, the physician applied the correct medication needed for the patient, as well as the urgent treatment of fluid resuscitation. The patient was given 500 mL bolus, and nothing else followed after the administration of medications.
The following incident and defense against the case caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the LVN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. She would have sought assistance from a good nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse lawyer for various licensing cases for 14 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.