In Texas, the government has created a special agency that has the jurisdiction to handle controversies and cases involving the nursing profession. This tribunal is called the Texas Board of Nursing (BON). Every RN or LVN subjected to a disciplinary proceeding or administrative case before the Board is given an opportunity to be heard and defend himself from all accusations. This every nurse with a pending case before the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is to encourage hiring a nurse attorney.
Unfortunately, there are some RN and LVN who fail to find the right nurse attorney to handle their cases. As a result, most of them would be adjudged liable for the complaints. This usually leads to the revocation of professional nursing license. This is what happened to a RN in El Paso, Texas and had been in that position for seven months at the time of the incident.
On or about February 6, 2015, while employed as the Executive Director in a hospital in El Paso, the RN failed to verify the delegated authority and skills of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) when she directed the UAP to administer a suppository to a Resident. The UAP had not been delegated by the Case Manager to administer suppositories, and had no training to administer suppositories. The RN’s conduct exposed the patient to a risk of harm from adverse complications of a procedure performed by staff without sufficient training and competency.
During the said time period, the RN also failed to ensure that the Medication Administration Record (MAR) of a Resident was accurate. The MAR contained initials of two different staff documenting that they administered a suppository to the Resident. Her conduct resulted in an inaccurate medical record and exposed the patient unnecessarily to a risk of harm in that subsequent care givers would not have accurate documentation to provide further care.
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to give her a fair chance to defend her case. She was given the chance to defend herself at the Board.
The RN states that the suppository was given by the Business Office Manager, who had been promoted from floor aide, med passer, to an administrative position, but whom was still used as a back-up medication passer during staff shortage as at that time there was no nursing patient in the building. She indicates that the patient’s family was present at the time and requested that the Business Office Manager administer the suppository, and
The RN explains that she thought that the Business Office Manager was certified to administer suppositories. She adds that she did ask the medication tech to write the order on the MAR, but states that she didn’t ask the tech to sign for administrating the medication. The RN further states that the Business Office Manager initialed the MAR as the one who administered the suppository.
However, the Texas Board of Nursing states that the RN’s conduct created an unsafe environment and unnecessarily exposed the resident to abuse and risk of injury.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) found her guilty for the complaint against her and her RN license was suspended. She lost the case simply because the RN failed to find an effective and efficient nurse attorney. Avoid committing the same mistake she did. Find the right nurse attorney in Texas to help you with your needs. Contact nurse attorney Yong J. An directly by calling or texting him at (832) 428-5679 for a discreet consultation
