An experienced Abilene nurse attorney has surely helped a lot of RNs and LVNs when it comes to cases that may lead to disciplinary action. Unfortunately, not all nurses were able to hire a nurse attorney as they underwent such cases. This incident that the RN committed in January 2018 was one of those examples.
At the time of the initial incident, the RN was employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Abilene, Texas, and assigned to the infirmary unit, and had been in that position for one (1) year and four (4) months.
On or about January 20, 2018, through January 21, 2018, the RN misappropriated Morphine belonging to the hospital and patients for her own personal use. Subsequently, she admitted to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Investigator that she had been stealing the contents of Morphine vials and replacing them with saline for personal use. Her conduct was likely to defraud the facility and patients of the cost of the medications.
In addition, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that she exhibited impaired behavior while on duty to include: appearing disoriented, stumbling, and displaying erratic behavior. Her condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in patients’ conditions, 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.
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing. During the hearing, the RN states she is ashamed of her actions and there is no excuse for it, but at no time did she ever withhold or divert the medication ordered for the patient. She states she would draw up the Morphine in two separate syringes and replace NS in the tubex. She states she would put 2mg from one syringe into a separate container and the other syringe with the remaining 2mg into her pocket.
The RN further states she would take the tube with NS and draw it up in another nurse to witness and waste half. She states at the bedside she would discard the syringe with NS and give the 2mg Morphine from her pocket. She states the waste was what she retained. The RN states she did this with each dose of Morphine on her evening shift from January 20, 2018, through January 21, 2018. The RN stated she did not use the Morphine while on duty on any occasion.
The following incident and defense against the case caused the Texas Board of Nursing to place the RN and her license into disciplinary proceedings. She would have sought assistance from a good Abilene nurse attorney to provide clarifications towards the case.
If you’ve ever done any errors or misdemeanor outside or during your shift as an RN or LVN, and you wish to preserve your career and your license, an experienced Abilene nurse attorney is what you need. Nurse Attorney Yong J. An, an experienced nurse attorney in Abilene for various licensing cases for 14 years, can assist you by contacting him at (832) 428-5679.