FEBRUARY 26, 2015
HOUSTON, TEXAS
(KVUE) -- A KVUE Defenders investigation uncovered a substantial
increase in Texas nurses disciplined by the state and losing their licenses.
Year after year, nursing ranks as the most trusted
profession in the country, but even nurses make mistakes. The Defenders
discovered the state is citing them for one type of crime more than any other.
Dante Fair found that out the hard way. The 29-year-old
father died after registered nurse Dana Tackett hit him head-on driving the
wrong way just outside of Killeen on Highway 130 in 2013.
Hours before, Tackett left a hospital and went drinking.
Tests revealed her blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit.
"Once I found out that she was a registered nurse, [I
thought] you should have been at the scene helping, not causing the
accident," said Julia Fair, Dante's mother.
A jury sentenced Tackett to 15 years in prison, and she lost
her nursing license. Tackett is one of nearly 1,000 Texas nurses in trouble
with the law over the past two years.
Linda Woodman, a registered nurse in Austin, also hit and
killed someone while under the influence. Tonya Baker is another nurse. Law
enforcement arrested the former Round Rock school nurse for possession of meth
in 2013.
The KVUE Defenders uncovered registered nurses losing their
licenses or getting sanctioned have skyrocketed. In 2003, the state sanctioned
and revoked 1,880 license. Last year, it jumped to 3,532, a 99 percent
increase.
The Texas Board of Nursing said those sanctions represent a
small portion of all nurses.
"I would point out that still remains sort of less than
two percent of our population," said Dusty Johnson, the board's general
counsel.
Johnson attributed the increase to more people getting into
the profession and tougher background checks. Until 2005, the state allowed
nurses to self-report crimes. Nurses must now provide finger prints when
renewing their licenses.
The Defenders also found most nurses sanctioned by the state
for committing crimes involved drugs or alcohol. Some were caught stealing
prescriptions and others were arrested for DWI.
"It certainly puts the patient at risk, and we have a
primary obligation as nurses for patient safety," said Cindy Zolnierek,
the executive director for the Texas Nursing Association.
While nurses can get in trouble for not reporting a DWI, the
state still gives them a free pass on their first offense.
"A single DWI. If that's all a nurse ever did, that
should not result in any disciplinary action," said Johnson.
Dante's widow, Amanda Luttmer, thinks the state should have
a no-tolerance policy.
"You just expect more out of those people, I guess you
can say," said Luttmer.
If the state identifies a nurse with a drug or alcohol
problem, they can admit themselves into a voluntary rehab program to keep their
license.
To report a problem with a nurse, contact the Texas Board of
Nursing.