The maintenance of professional boundaries is fundamental to the ethical practice of nursing, ensuring the integrity of the nurse-patient relationship. In such instances, a nurse attorney plays a crucial role in helping the accused nurse navigate the legal complexities surrounding professional conduct. Their support becomes pivotal in preserving the nurse’s professional reputation and ensuring that the legal process aligns with the principles of justice and fairness.
At the time of the incident, he was employed as an RN at a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, and had been in that position for four (4) months.
On or about September 3, 2021, through December 13, 2021, while employed as an RN at a hospital in Brownsville, Texas, RN violated the professional boundaries of the nurse/client relationship in that he had been text messaging and calling the patient after visits had been completed and at other times throughout the day. Additionally, RN was sexually harassing the patient. Furthermore, RN talked frequently on the phone with the patient and saw him in person on one (1) occasion outside of his nursing duties. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient in that it could have resulted in confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the patient. In addition, RN’s conduct may have caused delayed distress for the patient, which may not be recognized or felt by the patient until harmful consequences occur.
In response, RN states he and the patient met in early Spring of 2021 during his employment with the hospital, the first time (March thru May 2021). RN states during this time he saw the patient as a patient approximately twice prior to terminating his employment with the hospital at the end of May 2021. RN states he and the patient met again in Summer 2021 through his mother. RN states this friendship spans back to the Summer of 2021 prior to his employment with the hospital. RN states he became employed with the hospital the second time at the end of August of 2021. RN states the patient was still a patient with the hospital. RN states he believes he saw the patient once during his second stint of employment with the hospital. RN states he was never the patient’s primary nurse as he was only employed with the hospital PRN. RN states the patient eventually wanted to be more than friends and came onto him. RN states he informed the patient that was not possible due to him being in a relationship. RN states the patient started to threaten him to go to the authorities for harassment for telling his mother. RN states he attempted to end things with him amicably and he wouldn’t. RN states this is when the patient went to his work and made allegations that he was harassing him.
The above action constitutes grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10) Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A)&(1)(J) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A), (4)&(6)(D).
Because of this, the RN was summoned by the Texas Board of Nursing to defend his side, but the RN failed to hire a nurse attorney to help him with his case and without proper defense, the Texas Board of Nursing then decided to place his RN license under disciplinary action.
If you also received a letter from the Texas Board of Nursing regarding a case or complaint filed on you, you should hire a nurse attorney immediately before it’s too late. Equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise you need for a successful outcome by consulting a knowledgeable and experienced Texas nurse attorney. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated nurse attorneys who helped represent more than 500 nurse cases for the past 17 years. Contact the Law Office of Yong J. An 24/7 through text or call at (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation regarding any accusations from the Texas BON.