Integrity, honesty, and transparency are not just professional values but are essential for maintaining the trust and well-being of patients. Nurses are held to the highest ethical standards, with the responsibility to provide accurate documentation of patient care and to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity in all professional matters. Any deviation from these principles, such as the alleged actions described, raises serious concerns about the nurse’s conduct, the accuracy of medical records, and the potential harm to the patient. When faced with allegations of this nature, seeking professional legal guidance becomes imperative, and this is where a nurse attorney can offer critical assistance. A nurse attorney can provide insights into the ethical standards that must be upheld in healthcare practice, assisting the LVN in taking appropriate actions to rectify any harm caused.
Incident Scenario: Fraudulent Nursing Documentation
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an LVN at a hospital in Fort Hood, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years ten and (10) months.
On or about August while employed as an LVN at a hospital in Fort Hood, Texas, and assigned to provide nursing care to a patient, LVN completed and submitted a fraudulent nursing visit note for a visit she did not make. Additionally, LVN submitted a fraudulent timesheet for hours she did not work. LVN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and was likely to defraud and deceive the facility of money paid to the LVN for hours not worked. In addition, LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would rely on her documentation for further care.
In response to the above allegations, the LVN responded without guidance from a nurse defense attorney and stated she agreed to work the shift, however, she stated she fell asleep and forgot to set her alarm. The patient’s caregiver stated he would lose his hours and asked her to do a note for that shift. LVN admitted that she did the note.
Following the incident, the Board of Nursing (BON) investigated and summoned the RN involved. Unfortunately, the Texas Board of Nursing found her guilty of her misconduct. Her LVN license was subjected to disciplinary action. She did not hire a skilled Texas nurse attorney to fully defend her case which led to the decision by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? Contact The Law Office of Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a free consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse license defense attorney who represented more than 600 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 18 years.