Healthcare professionals need to uphold honesty and integrity when it comes to documenting patient care. Unfortunately, there are instances where healthcare professionals, like LVNs, deviate from these ethical standards. In cases where fraudulent practices, such as falsifying nursing visit notes and timesheets, come to light, the expertise of a nurse attorney becomes crucial. A nurse attorney can provide essential guidance in navigating the legal intricacies, ensuring accountability for the involved healthcare professional, and maintaining the ethical standards of patient care.
At the time of the incident, LVN was employed as an LVN with a home health care provider in Houston, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about April 29, 2021, while employed as an LVN with a home health care provider in Houston, Texas, and assigned to provide nursing care to a patient, LVN completed and submitted fraudulent nursing visit notes for a visit she did not actually make. Additionally, LVN submitted a fraudulent timesheet for hours she did not work. Further, LVN falsified the caregiver’s signature on her visit notes. LVN’s conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and was likely to injure the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have accurate information to base their future care decisions on.
Without any guidance from an experienced nurse attorney, the LVN responded to the above incidents, The LVN stated the patient did not answer the door. LVN states she added a nursing note to document what was going on, however, after fifteen (15) minutes of unsuccessful attempts she signed the patient’s name under the caregiver signature section. She stated the caregiver section option was often used if the patient requested a family member to sign out for a visit. A signature was usualy required on the tablet to move on to the next visit. The LVN added that she had seen the patient several days before and mistakenly documented her notes on the wrong date. LVN admitted she submitted the note when she should have missed it as she did not see the patient that day.
Following the board’s investigation, she was found guilty of her actions. As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing placed her license to disciplinary action.Hiring a nurse attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
Always remember that anyone can file a complaint against an RN/LVN with the state board for any reason. When this happens, all complaints need to be taken seriously no matter how trivial or unfounded they may appear. A nurse attorney is someone who can help you defend your license when the state board summons you. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas RN license attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 17 years and represented over 500 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679.