Nurses can be charged for misappropriating medications or for even ingesting medication that is intended only for the patients. This can put you in a very difficult situation wherein the help of a nurse attorney is needed.
At the time of the initial incident, an RN was employed as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Conroe, Texas, and had been in that position for six (6) months.
An incident happened on or about August 4, 2018, August 5, 2018, and August 7, 2018, the RN misappropriated or failed to take precautions to prevent misappropriation of two (2) tablets of Tramadol HCL from patient 1, one (1) vial of Morphine Sulfate 4mg/ml from patient 2, two (2) vials of Hydromorphone 0.5mg/ml from patient 3, one (1) vial of Morphine Sulfate 4mg/ml from patient 4, and one (1) tablet of Norco 10/325mg from patient 5. The RN’s conduct could have defrauded the facility and patients of the cost of the medications.
On or about August 9, 2018, the RN engaged in the use of Tramadol and Hydrocodone, in that she admitted to facility staff misappropriating Tramadol and Hydrocodone and on her time off from work, ingesting the said medications to help her sleep. The use of Tramadol and/or Hydrocodone by an RN, while subject to call or duty could impair the nurse’s ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in a patients’ condition, and could impair the nurse’s ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing a patient in potential danger.
In response, the RN states that she is experiencing a crisis at the time due to a big family problem. She also states that she had trouble sleeping because of the situation she is in and she began taking medication after she was unable to receive timely services from her employer’s employee assistance program. The RN was confronted about the medication and admitted to taking the medication for herself. The RN lastly states that she regrets doing it.
The RN provided two years of negative drug screens from August 11, 2018, through September 29, 2020. Also, the reasonable suspicion drug test conducted by the facility on the RN was negative.
As a result, the Board has subjected the RN to disciplinary action which could have or may lead to suspension of license. Such a case can be faced with the help of a nurse’s attorney. Having a nurse attorney can properly defend you from whatever cases they throw at you.
Do you have questions about the Texas Board of Nursing disciplinary process? 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.
