Any errors at work are stressful issues for an RN or LVN, except when a nurse attorney assists you against the case. The Texas Board of Nurses is responsible for all hearings against RNs and LVNs who are undergoing a case in which they that may revoke, suspend or only discipline their license. Take note that a nurse attorney can also defend a nurse’s license against accusations, which may include minor errors at work.
At the time of the incident, an LVN was employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at a medical facility in Sugar Land, Texas, and had been in that position for one (1) year and five (5) months,
On or about January 1, 2020, while employed as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, the said LVN removed a Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Controlled Drug Record Count Sheet pertaining to the Patient from the narcotic count book without notifying staff and replaced it with a handwritten narcotic drug sheet that contained inaccurate information. The original narcotic drug sheet indicated one hundred twenty (120) tablets were delivered on December 27, 2019, but the handwritten narcotic sheet created by the LVN indicated the patient only had eighty (80) tablets delivered. Further, the LVN documented in the handwritten sheet that he was the only nurse to have administered medication to the patient, when, in fact, the Progress Notes and Treatment Administration Records indicated that other nurses administered medication to the patient as well. The conduct of the LVN was likely to injure the patient, in that subsequent caregivers would rely on his documentation to further medicate the patient, which could result in an overdose. Additionally, the LVN’s conduct left medications unaccounted for, was likely to deceive the hospital pharmacy, and placed the facility in violation of Chapter 481 (Controlled Substances Act) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
In response to the incident that occurred, according to the LVN, the patient spilled liquid on the narcotic book and it wet the first two narcotic sheets. He attempted to clean the sheets as best as he could but they were too saturated to continue to use for documentation purposes. The LVN removed the two (2) sheets and placed them on a desk located in the nurses’ station and covered them with paper towels. The LVN then proceeded to handwrite two (2) controlled sheets to replicate the information that was on the two sheets that were wet. One of the controlled sheets was for the Patient and the quantity of the medication remaining on the handwritten sheet was the same as the sheet that had gotten wet. The two wet sheets remained on the desk located by the nurses’ station when the LVN completed his shift and left the facility as there was no managerial staff 10 turn in the sheets to.
Due to these events, the Texas Board of Nursing found her guilty and put her into disciplinary action. The story of the RN only shows how challenging it is to keep hold of your RN license in Texas. Make sure that you know how to avoid a similar situation like this from happening in the future or to avoid further sanctions. Prepare yourself by engaging the services of a nurse attorney.
Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas nurse attorney. Contact the Law Office of Nurse Attorney Yong J. An by text or call nurse attorney Yong 24/7 at (832) 428-4579.