Medication administration is a critical aspect of nursing practice, demanding meticulous adherence to physician’s orders and utmost responsibility in handling medications. However, in certain instances, LVNs may face allegations of misconduct related to medication administration and misappropriation. Such conduct jeopardizes patient safety and raises significant legal concerns for the LVN’s professional standing and licensure. To address these complex legal matters and safeguard the LVN’s rights, a nurse attorney can provide vital legal expertise, guiding the LVN through potential disciplinary proceedings and advocating for a fair resolution while addressing the allegations in a just manner.
At the time of the initial incident, she was employed as an LVN at a hospital in San Angelo, Texas, and had been in that position for two (2) months.
On or about January 17, 2021, through January 20, 2021, while employed as an LVN at a hospital in San Angelo, Texas, LVN was accused of the following:
- LVN administered Hydrocodone 10/325mg to two (2) different patients in excess frequency and/or dosage of the physician’s orders. LVN’s conduct was likely to injure the patients in that the administration of medication in excess frequency and/or dosage of the physicians’ orders could result in the patients suffering from adverse reactions. Additionally, LVN’s conduct placed the hospital in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
- LVN misappropriated Hydrocodone, belonging to the facility and patients thereof, in that the medication packaging was found on the floorboard of the LVN’s car and when questioned LVN admitted to taking the medication for her own personal use. LVN’s conduct was likely to defraud the facility and patients thereof of the cost of the medications.
In response to the above incidents, LVN states she left a lot of trash in her vehicle, and it’s possible an empty medication packet fell from her pocket or that she may have emptied her pockets in her vehicle.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(9),(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(2) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B),(4),(5),(6)(G),(8),(10)(A),(10)(D),(10)(E)&(11)(B).
The Texas Board of Nursing then subjected the LVN and her license into disciplinary action. The accusation would have been defended by an experienced and skilled Texas Nurse Attorney, had the LVN hired one. Hiring a Texas Nurse Attorney for defense is applicable for any kind of accusation laid against an RN or LVN.
For more details and to schedule a confidential consultation, you must approach one of the most experienced Texas Nurse Attorneys, Yong J. An. He is an experienced nurse attorney who represented more than 300 nurse cases for RNs and LVNs for the past 16 years. You can call him at (832) 428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.