In nursing practice, especially with regard to the administration of medications such as high-risk chemotherapy drugs, it is a basic principle that patients’ safety and absolute best care should be maintained. Ensuring that these treatments are delivered accurately and safely is of critical importance to nurses. Any deviation from these standards can have grave consequences for patients, leading to concerns about the competence of nurses and their adherence to established procedures. In the event of such a claim, it is necessary that appropriate legal advice be sought in order to address this situation and protect the rights of both nurses and patients. In order to navigate the legal complexities, to ensure a comprehensive and impartial assessment of the incident, and to promote accountability within the healthcare sector, a nurse defense attorney is one that can provide essential support.
At a hospital in Abilene, Texas, on or about the 21st of May, 2020, an employed RN who had been in that position for seventeen (17) years and nine (9) months had failed to observe the safety protocols for High-risk Medications.
To begin with, it was for a chemotherapy medication before the administration of the medication to the patient and the RN failed to correctly perform an independent double-check specifically, in noticing the discrepancy of the drug volume of Carboplatin that was on the medication label against what was on the order, as the medication had been incorrectly prepared by the pharmacy technician. In addition to the statement, the RN also failed to document and/or ensure the documentation of the name of the independent double-check witness. Hence, the patient received an excessive dose of Carboplatin, was hospitalized, and required intravenous fluids. The RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that failure to properly observe required safety protocols for high-risk medications led to the patient receiving an overdose of chemotherapy medication and no efficacious treatment. Furthermore, it also resulted in an inaccurate and incomplete medical record and could have injured the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have accurate and complete information on which to base their decisions for further care.
In response, the RN stated that she double-checked Carboplatin at the patient’s chairside and did so with another RN, as it is required by organizational policy and the standard of care. Furthermore, she stated that she verified the dose as being correct by checking the ordered dose against the physician’s order and verifying that the intravenous bag label correctly reflected the order. Finally, the RN stated that the label on the intravenous bag did reflect the expected and correct dose of 13.5 mg of Carboplatin. With the RN’s statement and thorough investigation of the incident, she could have a high possibility of not putting her license at risk for disciplinary action and of course by hiring an experienced nurse attorney who would lead her during the reasonable proceedings.
However, without enough evidence to prove her innocence, the RN lost the case. This is the reason why the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) placed her RN license under disciplinary action.
Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An and the rest of the team are committed to ensuring that you can keep your license and remain employed. Our expert team is ready to guide you through all available options and provide you with the support you need. So if you ever feel anxious or lost when faced with accusations as an RN/LVN in the same situation as above, consult with us and get your license secured by contacting the Law Office of Yong J. An through text or call at (832) 428-5679. We are available 24/7 so make your consultation now and get equipped with us.