Being a nurse sometimes is hard and very exhausting. There are lots of factors wherein a nurse will feel stressed and break down. Some nurses will rely on drugs to keep them going on their shifts. A lot of things may happen, and without knowing that they themselves are already breaking the rules and made violations due to these factors. Others easily give up but there is always a second chance at everything if you yourself will not give up. Having a nurse license is not easy to obtain, there is a lot of things to do and undergo before getting that license. When facing such difficulties, you should know that there is a nurse attorney whom you can consult with and ask what’s the right thing to do.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Garland, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) year and two (2) months.
On or about February 12, 2020, the Board provided notice to the RN that an investigation was being initiated into alleged violations of the Nursing Practice Act and/or the Board’s Rules and Regulations Relating to Nurse Education, Licensure, and Practice, as follows:
An incident happened on or about October 17, 2018, the RN lacked the fitness to practice professional nursing in that she seemed discombobulated, was not acting like her normal self, was unable to remember if she completed certain tasks, and her pupils were dilated.
And on or about October 17, 2018, the RN engaged in the intemperate use of Cocaine, in that she produced a specimen for a reasonable suspicion drug screen that resulted positive for Cocaine. Additionally, the RN admitted she had smoked Marijuana two (2) days prior.
Then on or about January 3, 2020, the RN was dismissed from the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) and admitted to alcohol use on February 1, 2019, and November 14, 2019, and Cocaine and Marijuana use on November 14, 2019. Additionally, the RN lacked the fitness to practice professional nursing in that she was referred for substance use treatment and enrolled in the Amarillo Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse on November 25, 2019.
On December 4, 2020, the Board received a notarized statement from the RN voluntarily surrendering the right to practice nursing in Texas. A copy of the RN’s statement, dated November 30, 2020, is attached and incorporated herein by reference as part of this Order.
Due to what happened, the Board has subjected the RN to disciplinary action as it is proved that the RN had violations. Later on, the action made by the RN leads to her voluntarily surrendering her license. This could have not been done if the RN only had hired a nurse attorney for help on such a matter.
If you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process, you can contact the Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An for a confidential consultation by calling or texting 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 and ask for attorney Yong.