Once a charge from the Board of Nursing is filed, that case becomes public record and available for the world to see. When this happens, this makes it very difficult to get a job that takes insurance. An experienced Fort Worth nurse attorney knows how to avoid these pitfalls.
One of the examples where a client failed to hire the right nurse attorney will be discussed in this case.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed as a registered nurse in a medical facility in Fort Worth and had been in that position for one year and ten months.
On or about June 7, 2018, the RN failed to complete a medication destruction log and placed an empty medication bag into the locked medication waste container. Her conduct left medications unaccounted for was likely to deceive the pharmacy and placed the pharmacy in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health & Safety Code.
On or about June 9, 2018, the RN engaged in the intemperate use of Lorazepam, in that she produced a specimen for a reasonable cause drug screen that resulted positive for Lorazepam. Possession of Lorazepam, without a valid prescription, is prohibited by Chapter 481 of the Texas Health & Safety Code (Controlled Substances Act). The use of Lorazepam by a Registered Nurse, while subject to call or duty, could impair the nurse’s ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patient in potential danger.
On or about April 15, 2019, the RN engaged in the intemperate use of alcohol in that she produced a specimen for a random drug screen that resulted positive for ethyl glucuronide (ETG) and ethyl sulfate (ETS).
Additionally, the RN admitted to drinking. The use of alcohol by a Registered Nurse, while subject to call or duty could impair the nurse’s ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in the patient’s condition, and could impair the nurse’s ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patient in potential danger.
In response to the incident, the RN states she did in fact complete a destruction log and noted that a coworker had recorded a waste on it. The witnessed remaining volume was placed in two Ziploc bags and the bags were then stapled closed for extra protection to ensure that the fluid remaining was secure. The bag was then placed into the unit locked waste container. The box was overfilled and difficult to push the sealed bag into the box.
The RN states she had to push very hard to get it in securely and not flip back out. She states it could be quite possible that if more wasted drugs were put in the container that it could have caught the lip and come back out.
Regarding the other incident, the RN states she has a male friend with Parkinson’s disease who takes medication for spasticity, as well as Ativan. One evening she prepared a meal and a pitcher of cocktails. She recalls feeling very tired when she had just taken a nap. She left the remainder of the meal and cocktail mixture in the refrigerator, which the RN eventually drank alone on a different evening, still unaware that it was mixed with Ativan. She was shocked to find out that the urine was positive for Ativan. The RN would never intentionally jeopardize her position on the hospice unit or any other unit.
In reference to the drinking allegations, the RN admits she had a cocktail in the privacy of her own home. However, the RN failed to properly present and defend her case against the court. She was disciplined and warned to suspend her RN license by violating the Texas Board of Nursing regulation.
Your license can be disciplined over simple misunderstandings, small mistakes, or trivial issues. When this happens, hiring a nurse attorney is your best option. Consult with Texas nurse attorney Yong J. An today if you have any questions about your disciplinary process by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 day, night or weekends.