Patient care in correctional facilities necessitates prompt and appropriate interventions to guarantee the safety of people in custody. Unfortunately, in some cases, LVNs may be accused of providing poor care and failing to take appropriate precautions when confronted with severe medical problems. Such actions can have major effects on the patient’s health and raise questions about the LVN’s capability to offer appropriate guidance. A nurse attorney can help the LVN preserve their rights by guiding them through any disciplinary processes and fighting for a fair conclusion while dealing with the allegations in a just and appropriate manner.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an LVN at a correctional facility in Temple, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) years and three (3) months.
On or about November 9, 2020, while employed as an LVN at a correctional facility in Temple, Texas, the LVN failed to notify a physician after receiving an elevated blood sugar reading for a patient and released the patient back to his cell with instructions to contact the emergency department if his symptoms did not improve instead of ensuring the patient’s blood sugar was stable and/or obtaining orders for additional interventions. LVN’s conduct created a substantial risk of harm for the patient due to potential adverse complications of untreated fluctuations in blood glucose.
To explain her side of the story, the LVN claimed she was informed by an officer that an inmate had complained of chest discomfort and requested to see a doctor. When the LVN examined the patient, he complained of heartburn and stated that it had been three days since the last time he defecated. Additionally, the patient informed the nurse of his use of an anti-diabetic drug, which he believed was the cause of his irregular bowel movement, and that he had stopped taking the medication.
LVN reported that even though the patient’s chart did not show a diagnosis of diabetes, she examined his blood sugar and found that it was “HI.” Because of the patient’s elevated sugar level, the LVN advised the patient to take the anti-diabetic drug prescribed for him. The LVN also made sure to check his EKG in case there might be issues with the heart, which fortunately revealed a normal sinus rhythm. Finally, the patient was given milk of magnesia by the LVN who then gave him some recommendations on how to relieve himself from constipation.
Looking back, the LVN stated that she should have called the provider as soon as she saw that the reading was quite high. She further explained that she was too preoccupied by the patient’s concerns, and how he modified his diet to stabilize his sugar level. The LVN thought that not taking the medicine resulted in elevated sugar levels, therefore she asked the patient to diligently follow the care plan. Also, the LVN informed the patient that she’ll be on duty the next day, thus, if the problem persists, they’ll request further medical attention. The next day, November 10th, the patient called in sick, complaining of the same symptoms. The LVN then learned that the patient’s request hadn’t been scanned for two days.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(13) Texas Occupations Code and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(D),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(2)(A).
The Texas Board of Nursing gave the LVN enough time to defend the complaints filed against her. However, there was a failure on the LVN’s part to find the right RN/LVN license attorney to handle her case. The negligence of the RN/LVN license attorney led to the decision of the Texas BON to place the LVN’s license under disciplinary action.
Consult with a competent and experienced Texas RN/LVN nurse attorney to obtain the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of the dedicated nurse attorneys who has represented over 300 nursing cases over the last 16 years. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 via text or phone at (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation on any complaints from the Texas BON.