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Accusations are stressful issues for an RN or LVN, except when a Texas nurse attorney assists you against the case. The Texas Board of Nurses is responsible for all hearings against RNs and LVNs undergoing a case that may revoke, suspend or only discipline their license. Take note that a Texas nurse attorney can also defend a nurse’s license against any form of accusations.

An instance of this type of accusation occurred to a RN in New Braunfels, Texas. She was provided notice of the following allegations:

On or about July 2, 2016, the RN lacked fitness to practice professional nursing in that she exhibited slurred speech, an unsteady gait, and had to hold on to a fellow employee as she walked down the hall.  She appeared to be sleepy and was unable to follow simple commands. 

The RN provided a specimen for a urine drug screen that resulted positive for Meprobamate  (a metabolite  of Soma)   at a level  of over  200,000ng/ml.   

Additionally, she  admitted that she had taken Soma three (3) days prior. Her conduct could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in patients’ conditions, and could have affected her ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments,  and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger

The Texas Board of Nursing finds that  there  exists  serious risks to public  health  and safety as a result of impaired nursing  care due to intemperate use of controlled  substances  or chemical dependency. Because of this, the RN’s license was disciplined and suspended.

Another incident involving RN misconduct happened  on or about December  9, 2013, and December  10, 2015, when a RN provided  false and misleading information when she submitted online applications  for renewal of her license to practice registered nursing with advanced practice authorization in the State of Texas and answered “Yes” to the question which reads, in relevant part:

“I acknowledge  that  this  electronic  form  is  a legal  document.  I  understand  that…I  am accountable and responsible for the accuracy of any answer or statement on this form. I attest that I meet all the requirements  to practice for the type of the renewal requested, as listed in 22 Texas Administrative  Code, Ch. 216 (CE). Further, I understand that it is a violation of the 22 Texas Administrative  Code §217.12  (6)(1) and the Penal Code §37.10,  to submit a false statement  to a government  agency.  APNs must also meet all requirements  listed  in 221.8 (APN); and 222.3 (LPA).”

The RN did not meet the minimum of four hundred ( 400) hours of current practice within the advanced practice role of Clinical Nurse Specialist during the renewal periods, despite attesting that she did.

As a response to the allegations against her, the RN  states  that  she  takes  full responsibility for the attestation on her APRN renewal being incorrect at the time of her past renewals.   Accordingly,  another nurse has affirmatively acted to immediately place her designation  of Clinical Nurse Specialist on inactivate status and is aware of what steps would be necessary to meet the threshold for reactivation  of the privilege.

The Texas Board of Nursing then decided to subject the RN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. The said proceedings shall ensure the safety of the patient, along with a better future for the RN’s career. However, she should contact a Texas nurse attorney in order to receive assistance regarding the case, especially if the RN sincerely thinks of it as an accusation.

For more details or for a confidential consultation regarding accusations, it’s best to contact an experienced Texas nurse attorney. Yong J. An is an experienced nurse attorney which helped RNs and LVNs defend against several cases since 2006. You can call him at (832)-428-5679 to get started or to inquire for more information regarding nursing license case defenses.