The work that nurses do is often unappreciated. And sometimes, a bit of negligence could lead to a more serious scenario such as filing a suit against them. If this happens to an RN, they should know how to protect and defend themselves. If not properly defended by a nurse attorney, their license could even be suspended or revoked.
On or about May 25, 2018, while employed as a Registered Nurse in a medical facility in Denton and assigned to the Emergency Department in Denton, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that she was found to be sleeping while on duty.
The RN’s condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in patients’ conditions, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
On or about June 8, 2018, while employed in the same medical facility, the RN mislabeled a urine specimen belonging to a patient. As a result, the patient had to submit another specimen. Her conduct resulted in an inaccurately labeled specimen and could have injured the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have complete information on which to base their care decisions
On or about July 25, 2018, the RN failed to register a patient upon arrival in the Emergency Department in Quick Reg, the after-hours patient registration system. Her conduct could have resulted in a delay in care and could have injured the patient in that subsequent caregivers would not have complete information on which to base their care decisions.
On or about December 13, 2018, the RN lacked the fitness to practice nursing in that she was again found to be sleeping while on duty. Subsequently, she confirmed in an email that while on duty, The RN slept 5-10 minutes and indicated that she had taken medications that could cause drowsiness. Her condition could have affected her ability to recognize subtle signs, symptoms or changes in patients’ conditions, and could have affected his ability to make rational, accurate, and appropriate assessments, judgments, and decisions regarding patient care, thereby placing the patients in potential danger.
In response to the incidents, the RN admits to the allegations. In the first sleeping incident, she states she was taking her thirty-minute break, however, she set her alarm clock for the incorrect time and was woken up by the emergency department manager. She states she didn’t check the label before submitting the specimen in the lab as this was the only patient in the ER, however, the label belonged to the patient that had previously been in the room.
The RN states she was inexperienced in Quick Reg and the other RN on duty would usually register the patients; she states she notified her house supervisor that she was unable to register the patient and the patient was registered by someone else shortly thereafter. She states she had been suffering from a cough and took medication before her shift; she states she was doing online educational assignments and closed her eyes due to strain and was then woken up by the emergency department doctor five to ten minutes later.
Because of the incident, the RN was disciplined and suspended by the Board of Nursing.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is the government agency that has jurisdiction to hear and decide administrative cases involving RN and LVN license. The Board has the power to suspend and/or revoke the nurse license. It is also the agency that is responsible for overseeing the practice of professional nursing all over the State of Texas.
A good nurse attorney is always the best line of defense for these cases. This is the reason why Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is dedicated to helping those nurses in need to settle their cases. For a private consultation and other inquiries, it’s best to contact him for assistance by dialing (832)-428-5679.
