Some nurses tend to forget the fact that they can hire a nurse attorney when accused of a case they wish to deny or never committed. This is because they really felt like they should be responsible even if they never intended to commit such an error.
At the time of the incident, the RN was employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Victoria and had been in that position for one year and two months.
On or about February 11, 2019, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that she admitted to the CPS Case Worker that she was not mentally able to care for her children. Additionally, it was noted by the Case Worker that the RN appeared to be under the influence at the time of the interview. Her condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in patients’ condition, 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.
On or about March 12, 2019, while employed as a Registered Nurse and participating in a Child Protective Services (CPS) required treatment program, she engaged in the intemperate use of methamphetamine and amphetamine in that she produced a specimen for a for-cause drug screen that resulted positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. The use of methamphetamine by a Nurse, while subject to call or duty, could impair the nurse’s ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms, or changes in a 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 a patient in potential danger.
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to hear her side of the story. However, the RN failed to appear during the hearing. She also failed to send a nurse attorney to defend her case. Because of this, the RN was disciplined and suspended.
In response to the incident, the RN admits that she is currently seeking treatment for her mental health issues and past methamphetamine use.
The Texas Board of Nursing placed her RN license to disciplinary action. It’s too bad that she failed to hire a nurse attorney for assistance, knowing that she had every reason to defend herself in the first place. Her defense would have gotten better if she actually sought legal consultation from a Texas nurse attorney as well.
So if you’re facing a complaint from the Board, it’s best to seek legal advice first. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. To contact him, please dial (832)-428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.
