Following doctor’s orders and protocols is fundamental for patient safety and ethical care. For nurses accused of not following protocols or performing unauthorized medical procedures, it is important to seek help from a nurse defense attorney. These attorneys have a strong legal background making them well-suited to handle the complicated legal process of such cases. The case below highlights the importance of legal expertise from a nurse defense attorney in dealing with accusations of not following protocols.
Case Scenario:
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and had been in that position for four (4) months.
On or about January 27, 2022, while employed as an RN at a medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the RN inappropriately removed the chest tube of a patient without a physician’s order and proper training. RN’s conduct exceeded her scope of nursing practice and exposed the patient to the risk of harm from potentially adverse complications of pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, and respiratory failure.
In response to the above incident, the RN stated that she did misinterpret the physician’s order of “discontinue chest tube to water seal” as “discontinue chest tube.” RN stated that she did not question the order when she initially saw it and it wasn’t until after she had already removed the tube that she started questioning her actions. Additionally, she thought the chest tube was at the water seal already and didn’t realize it had been re-connected to suction. Hence, she had acted on her earlier experiences in her career without thinking accordingly.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(H),(1)(M),(1)(N)&(1)(P) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
She did not seek help from an experienced Texas nurse attorney to fully defend her case. Unfortunately, the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) found her guilty of her actions. Her RN license was subjected to disciplinary action. She could have mitigated the severity of the disciplinary action against her license if she sought help from a nurse defense attorney.
Get help from a Texas Nurse Attorney Today
Make sure that you will not make the same mistake as the RN mentioned above in her case before the Texas BON. Contact a Texas nurse defense attorney today who can provide you with a free consultation to evaluate your case and counsel you on the best steps to take. Texas Nurse Defense Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases with a state-wide legal practice. Contact Attorney An by calling or texting him 24/7 directly at (832) 428-5679.