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When do you need one?

The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) receives over 16,000 complaints every year. When the Board receives a complaint, they might launch an investigation into the complaint. Not all complaints result in an investigation. If a complaint is missing identifying information or is about an issue that is not a violation of a Board rule, the Nursing Practice Act or some other policy or procedure, or law, the Board is not likely to pursue an investigation into the complaint. Some nurses want to know who reported them. Unfortunately, it is not possible to know exactly who made the complaint as this information is always kept confidential.

A nurse can be reported for various reasons. These reasons usually involve

Nurses are also reported for allegations involving substance abuse, mental health issues and related incidents. Nurses who are reported for these types of issues are usually reported first to the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN).

A 2018 study conducted by the TBON presented a root cause analysis of errors nurses make that resulted in them facing some form of discipline. The study organized the various practice breakdown nurses experienced. It revealed that nurses usually experienced eight (8) categories of nursing practice breakdowns. Two of these categories, medication errors and documentation errors, were reviewed separately from the other six (6) categories.

It was found that in 37.1% of overall practice breakdown, documentation error was present. In 36.5 % of overall practice breakdown, medication error was present.

The TBON found the following types of documentation errors to be the most common types:

Incomplete or lack of charting

0 %

Charting incorrect information

0 %

Pre-charting or untimely charting

0 %

Charting on wrong patient record

0 %

Other

0 %

The other six (6) categories where practice breakdown occurred were:

Clinical Reasoning

0 %

Professional Responsibility

0 %

Interpretation of Order

0 %

Prevention

0 %

Other

0 %

Attentiveness/Surveillance

0 %

If the TBON believes that a practice breakdown and or a violation of Board rule(s), NPA, or some policy, procedure or other law, has occurred and believes that alerting the nurse of this violation will not jeopardize their investigation, it will send the nurse a initial letter of investigation.

This letter will

Receiving a letter of investigation can be a very frightening experience especially if this initial investigation letter comes as a surprise. No matter the reason for your license being reported to the TBON, you should immediately think of protecting your reputation, license, and livelihood. Upon receiving a letter from TBON, you should immediately contact a nursing license attorney.

Contact us for a FREE consultation

A nursing license attorney has the experience and knowledge that is needed to protect your nursing license and stand up against the TBON on your behalf.