Following strict protocols for medication administration is crucial for maintaining patient safety. When nurses are accused of medication errors, they may face legal consequences that could harm their professional reputation. That’s where a nurse defense attorney comes in with their specialized knowledge of healthcare laws and regulations, nurse attorneys can carefully assess the details of a case.
In a recent incident, an RN failed to perform the two (2) nurse verification process before administering Pitocin, a high-alert medication used to induce labor, to a patient, as required per unit policy. Additionally, the RN incorrectly administered the Pitocin at an incorrect rate of 123 milliliters per hour. Subsequently, the patient received the incorrect dosage of Pitocin for approximately fifteen (15) minutes and an emergency cesarean section was performed in response to fetal bradycardia. The newborn was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from adverse effects of high doses of uterotonic medication, including uterine tachysystole and fetal distress.
Without asking for advice from a nurse attorney, the RN responded to the above incident and stated that she remembered that the Labor and Delivery Department was very busy and understaffed on the day in question. The RN stated that the nurse who admitted the patient was called away to assist with another patient. Additionally, the RN denied that she incorrectly administered Pitocin at an incorrect rate. The RN stated that to the best of her memory, she initiated the administration of Pitocin at two (2) milliliters per hour.
As a consequence of the events, the Registered Nurse (RN) in question was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to provide her account of the situation. Unfortunately, the RN did not hire a nurse attorney to provide legal support for her case. Consequently, the Board of Nursing decided to impose disciplinary action on her RN license due to the lack of proper defense.
Contact Our Expert Texas Nurse Attorneys Today for Legal Guidance!
At Texas Nurse Lawyers, we are trained and qualified to take care of your Nursing License Defense needs. With years in the field and a passion for our clients, we continue to defend our nurses. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse attorneys who helped represent more than 600 nurse cases since 2006. For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, call (832) 428-5679.