Help!! Should I use NSO attorney to fight BON Charge

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Psych.

Thanks in advance for reading and responding to my post. I have been contacted by my state Board of Nursing for a sentinel event. I am heart broken and very regretful over the event. I have been Nursing for 9 years and this is the 1st time this has ever happned to me.

Lets get right to it. The sentinel event did lead to a patient's death, but (I later found out) the patient was terminally ill with stage 4 cancer with mets. I did my Nursing assessment and asked the patient appropriate questions (it was during shift change) before the patient left for a test. I hadn't gotten report and I did not have access to a computer to look at orders. However, the patient was Alert and Oriented so I  believed the answers given by the patient. Well it turns out that the patient needed life saving equipment at all times and I did not provide that equipment becuase the patient denied needed anything. The patient ended up coding and was removed from life support days later. Again, I am heart broken, shocked, and regretful. 

I have been contacted by my state's BON about the event. I know I need a lawyer to try to salvage my license. I am a single mother of 2 toddlers. Nursing has given me the ability to care and provide for my children. I am terrified that I will have my license suspended or revoked for negligence or something similar. I know the board is not on my side. I have NEVER made this type of mistake before. I also haven't had a patient be dishonest in the type of care that they require. I am at a loss. I was terminated from that job but was able to fund work again. Now I am afraid that I'll be fired from my new job and unable to work again ad a nurse. Heck I'm still paying on my school loans. Ugh, I'm so distraught. But worst of all, I caused a patient harm and I HATE that. That is not who I am. I come to work every day to be advocate for my patients and strive to give the best care that I can each and every day.

Has anyone used the NSO attorneys to represent them against the Board of Nursing??  Help please, I gotta respond to this letter immediately. 

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Hi. 

I know this must be devastating to be going through. I don't believe any of us set out to cause a pt harm  

Im not sure what NSO attorneys are but I would find an attorney that is experienced in this type of case. Even if it costs more if you can. 
 

good luck. 
 

 

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Specializes in ICU,CCU,Med/Surg,LTC.

I assume you have NSO as your provider? I carry insurance through them as well. Knock on wood I've never had to use it. I'm not sure what the process is but I would start with contacting NSO and explaining the situation. I'm not sure if they have lawyers that they work directly with in your state that they recommend or if you just retain your own that they cover the cost of. I would start with contacting NSO first. Either way, you are going to need a lawyer familiar with nurse licensure issues to help you protect your license.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Psych.

Thank you all for your responses. I definitely will use a Lawyer to protect myself and my license. 

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Agree w/ everybody here.  Contact NSO first and they will be able to lead you in the right direction.

I might also add, may be a good idea to contact the Admin of All Nurses website to remove this post.  You don't want "extra" information out there -- good or bad.

Good luck to you

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