Being a nurse and seeing patients recover with such great results is very rewarding to nurses. However, some nurses tend to do their duties in an inappropriate manner. Poor nursing care can be a result of overworked, long working hours, stress, and many more which are common in nursing. This should not be tolerated, as nurses are expected to give the proper care needed by the patients. Those nurses who neglect to do their duties properly are sanctioned by the Board. This case scenario for nurses should be dealt with properly with the help of a nurse attorney.
At the time of the incident, she was employed as an RN at a medical facility in McAllen, Texas, and had been in that position for three (3) years and ten (10) months.
On or about December 27, 2020, while working as an RN at a medical facility in McAllen, Texas, RN was accused of the following:
- RN incorrectly ordered a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) lab draw for a patient when the patient did not need the lab drawn. Subsequently, the patient underwent having her blood drawn unnecessarily. RN’s conduct may have caused the patient to suffer from a blood draw without need or cause.
- RN incorrectly adjusted the infusion rate of heparin being administered to Patient A, using a lab result from another patient. Specifically, RN and another nurse based the adjustment of the heparin infusion using the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) lab result of the other patient, who was not receiving a heparin drip. Additionally, RN failed to notify the physician of the error. Subsequently, the error was noted by the oncoming nurse and the patient went the entire night without receiving the correct heparin dose. RN’s conduct was likely to injure the patient from adverse reactions to medication titrated using the incorrect laboratory value.
In response, RN states that she was asked by another nurse to put in a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) for her patient on Heparin. RN states that she put in the order to be drawn six (6) hours from that time. RN states that six (6) hours later the lab sheet was picked up off the printer and she went into the room with the other nurse, who pulled the patient up on the computer. RN states that they both looked at the paper results and adjusted the heparin according to the lab draw and per protocol. RN states that they followed the five (5) rights for medication administration and a new lab draw was placed in the computer per protocol. RN states that this was the only patient on heparin on the unit. RN states that in the morning she gave a report to the oncoming charge nurse and clocked out with the end of her shift. RN states that as she was walking out, the day charge nurse informed her that the lab draw for heparin was drawn on the wrong patient. RN states that she and the other nurse were both present. RN states that she asked the other nurse to call the physician and RN went and checked on the patient. RN states that she then came back to the desk and put in a new order for a PTT lab draw on the correct patient.
The above actions constitute grounds for disciplinary action in accordance with Section 301.452(b)(10)&(13), Texas Occupations Code, and is a violation of 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.11(1)(A),(1)(B),(1)(C),(1)(M),(1)(P)&(3)(A) and 22 TEX. ADMIN. CODE §217.12(1)(A),(1)(B)&(4).
However, without enough evidence to prove she’s not guilty, the RN lost the case. This is the reason why the Texas Board of Nursing placed her RN license under disciplinary action.
If you ever undergo cases such as this, it’s best to seek the assistance of a good nurse attorney as it could make the case better in your favor. Be sure to find a nurse attorney who is experienced and knowledgeable in several nurse cases to ensure the best assistance possible.
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. Texas Nurse Attorney Yong J. An is willing to assist every nurse in need of immediate help for nurse licensing cases. He is an experienced nurse attorney for various licensing cases for the past 16 years and represented over 300 nurses before the Texas BON. To contact him, please dial (832) 428-5679 for a confidential consultation or for more inquiries.