Monday, April 19, 2010
State Board Takes Action Against Three Local Nurses
A state board has taken action against three Lawrence County nurses, issuing various rulings regarding their nursing licenses.
According to legal documents on record through the Tennessee Board of Nursing, members opted last month to revoke the license of Lawrenceburg resident April D. Wisdom. Wisdom had been registered with the board as a Licensed Practical Nurse since April 22, 1999.
Court documents indicate, however, that in June of 2008 Wisdom was convicted through Lawrence County Circuit Court of the misdemeanor crime of possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to six months probation. The documents further indicate that Wisdom renewed her LPN license on August 1, 2008, but failed to disclose the conviction, as required.
Once the board was made aware of the matter in June of 2009 it required that Wisdom undergo evaluation with the Tennessee Professional Assistance Program and comply with all subsequent recommendations in order to retain her license. On September 16, 2009, however, documentation shows that Wisdom was discharged from TnPAP “for noncompliance.”
On October 7, 2009 Wisdom was convicted in Lawrence County Circuit Court on the misdemeanor crimes of simple possession of marijuana and driving under the influence and received an 11 month 29 day prison sentence.
Citing that Wisdom “is guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring a license to practice nursing,” “is guilty of a crime,” “is guilty of unprofessional conduct,” “has violated…provisions of this chapter,” showed “unprofessional conduct, unfitness, or incompetency by reasons of negligence, habits or other causes,” “practiced practical nursing in a manner inconsistent with Tennessee Codes Annotated,” “engaged in acts of dishonesty which related to the practice of nursing,” and “admits her acts and conduct…,” the board ordered that Wisdom’s nursing license be revoked.
On March 4 the Board of Nursing considered disciplinary actions against LPN Angela Snyder Vogel, licensed through the board since October 18, 1994. Documentation indicates that “On or about May 21, 2008¸ (Vogel) self-reported to Tennessee Professional Assistance Program, after she was discharged from (Alcohol and Drug Dependency) treatment, stating that she enrolled in treatment because she had been calling in prescriptions for Hydrocodone for herself utilizing the name of her employer without authorization.” This reportedly occurred while Vogel was employed with Physicians and Surgeons, Inc., in Pulaski.
Documents indicate that Vogel entered into a thirty-six month monitoring agreement with TnPAP in July of 2008, but was terminated from her job on November 11, 2008 “due to inability to perform her work duties.” They indicate they closed her file on November 20, 2008 “due to abandoned communication to her.”
The board concluded that Vogel, “is unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence, habits or other cause,” and that she “is guilty of unprofessional conduct,” thus her license was suspended.
Documents further show that Vogel has since agreed to undergo an evaluation and enter into a contract with TnPAP that may allow her to return to a probationary status. That status would be continued until she meets all terms and conditions outlined under the contract.
The third action taken by the board in March affected the LPN license of Lawrenceburg resident Barbara D. Williams (Jackson) who has been licensed through the board since October 27, 1998.
While employed through Signature Healthcare of Columbia, documentation indicates that Williams, on July 17, 2009 “appeared impaired while on duty and as a result submitted to a drug screen which was positive for benzodiazapines and opiates”
The board found Williams “guilty of unprofessional conduct,” in that she was, “under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs…while on duty…,” and “practicing practical nursing in a manner inconsistent with Tennessee Codes Annotated.”
The board ordered that Williams’ be placed on a probationary status during which she will undergo evaluation and enter into a contract with TnPAP. The probationary status will continue until such time as Williams satisfies all terms and conditions set forth in that contract.
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