In healthcare settings, patient care involves not only medical procedures but also respectful and compassionate treatment. However, there are unfortunate instances when healthcare professionals deviate from these crucial standards, potentially compromising patient well-being and raising serious concerns about professionalism. In situations like this, the expertise of a nurse attorney is invaluable in addressing the legal and ethical dimensions surrounding incidents of patient mistreatment, ensuring accountability, and safeguarding the rights and dignity of the patient.
Incident: Improper Handling and Verbal Abuse During Medical Procedure
On or about December 1, 2021, while employed as a private duty RN with a pediatric home health care provider in Georgetown, Texas, the RN was accused of the following:
- RN left the patient unattended during the process of venting her gastrostomy button and when the patient rose from the chair, the venting equipment was displaced. RN’s conduct was likely to allow for the disruption of an effective venting of the gastronomy button.
- RN grabbed and jerked the patient by the arm, yelled at her to sit down, and then pushed her down into a chair. RN’s conduct was likely to cause emotional and/or physical injury to the patient and could have interfered or disrupted the patient’s treatment.
Without consulting with a nurse defense attorney, the RN responded and stated that she should not have left the patient unattended during the process of venting her gastronomy button. RN stated that she was frustrated and acted unprofessionally but does not believe she yelled or pushed the patient.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(14) Texas Occupations Code and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(1)(M) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B),(4),(6)(C)&(6)(F).
Unfortunately, the Texas Board of Nursing found her guilty. Her RN license was subjected to disciplinary action. She did not hire a skilled Texas BON attorney to fully defend her case which led to this decision by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Make sure that you will not make the same mistake as the RN mentioned above in her case before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Contact a Texas nurse 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 Attorney Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for 18 years and represented over 600 nurses before the Texas BON. Contact Mr. An by calling or texting him 24/7 directly at (832) 428-5679.