The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) has the jurisdiction to hear and decide cases involving the practice of professional nursing in Texas. Any RN or LVN found guilty for violating the state laws and regulations may be subjected to a disciplinary case if not properly defended by a nurse attorney.
One of the examples where a RN faced an accusation involving negligence happened on or about January 13, 2017. According to the accusation filed by a certain patient, the RN failed to sterilize the equipment prior to the commencement of cervical screening.
If convicted, the RN would be charged under the violation of violating infection control guidelines. Until they have been cleared of their charges, they would be placed under suspension, barred from working by the Texas Board of Nursing, and on top of that, were given extra training and supervision. They added that proper disciplinary action would not be ruled out after a complete investigation.
According to initial investigation, authorities revealed that the RN had erroneously placed a speculum, cleansed but unsterilized, in a box reserved for equipment that has been properly disinfected. She was also responsible for conducting cervical screenings, failed to check that the speculum was labelled as disinfected.
As per the standard infection control guidelines, the speculum must be thoroughly cleansed and sterilized after use. Following which, a label that indicates its disinfection status should be attached to the package of the equipment.
This was not the first case of a nursing malpractice, although in this instance, the negative effects were not as severe. Just last month, an elderly man passed on due to an LVN’s unprofessionalism, amongst seven other similar cases.
Because of the incident, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend her side. However, she failed to appear at the hearing and failed to hire a nurse attorney to help her defend her side.
Because of the incident, the RN was disciplined warning to suspension of her RN license by violating Texas Board of Nursing regulation.
Avoid the similar thing from happening on your end. Make sure to find the right nurse attorney in case a complaint will be filed against you before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).
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.