Effective communication and accurate information dissemination are vital in the nursing profession to provide the best care to patients. In circumstances where allegations arise from incidents related to communication, a nurse attorney can provide invaluable assistance. A nurse attorney can help RNs navigate through legal complexities, protect their rights, and develop a strong defense strategy to mitigate potential legal and professional consequences. Let us take
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a hospital in Allen, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) months.
On or about June 29, 2021, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Allen, Texas, the RN informed a patient that she needed to be in isolation based on her history of shingles, despite the patient not having an active shingles episode. RN was directed to contact the patient’s physician by the Nurse Manager and obtain an order for isolation before contacting the patient but failed to do so. The patient’s physician was contacted, and RN was informed the patient’s shingles were not active and isolation was not required. RN’s conduct was likely to cause undue stress and anxiety for the patient.
In response to the above incident, the RN admitted to telling a patient she should be in isolation but stated her actions were reasonable based on the information in the patient’s chart and compliance with the direction given by the assistant manager.
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)(B),(1)(C),(1)(D),(1)(E)&(1)(G) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12 (1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C)&(4).
It’s too bad that she failed to hire a nurse attorney for legal assistance, knowing that she had every reason to defend herself. As a result, the Texas Board of Nursing decided to place her RN license under disciplinary action. Her defense would have improved if she sought legal consultation from a Texas nurse attorney.
So, if you’re facing a complaint from the Board, it’s best to seek legal advice to understand the consequences of the complaints better. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse needing immediate help with nursing licensing cases. He has been an experienced nurse defense attorney for various licensing cases since 2006 and represented over 600 nurses before the Texas BON. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.