A former Fresno Unified School District nurse is at risk of losing her license after a student passed away while in the district’s care in 2022.
The Board of Registered Nursing is recommending that Xai Elizabeth Torres, a cousin of Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her, have her license revoked or suspended.
The backstory: Torres, a registered nurse, was serving as acting Director of Health Services for Fresno Unified in February 2022, when an 11-year-old student passed away after being sent home from the school nurse’s office.
On Feb. 18, 2022, a Homan Elementary School student had a severe asthma attack and used an inhaler six times in the classroom before seeing nurse Lydia White.
While White documented that the student should be referred to a physician or to the emergency department, she did not call emergency services and did not administer rescue medication. Instead, White discharged the student to a family member despite the fact that the family member said she would take the student home.
The student became weak and limp in the car ride home, leading the family member to head to the hospital. But the student experienced cardiac arrest on the ride there, leading to an anoxic brain injury and ultimately death.
Investigating the death: Following the student’s death, the district directed Torres to investigate the incident.
She found no wrongdoing on White’s behalf and reported that she had conducted a chart review on the patient and that she had provided coaching and informal discipline to White.
But a complaint from the Board of Registered Nursing states that Torres never created a written report and failed to identify which of White’s actions warranted informal discipline. Torres also failed to describe what specific coaching was provided to White.
Further, Torres did not review medical records related to the student’s care and did not interview the student’s family members or medical providers regarding the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
What we’re watching: The Registered Board of Nursing has accused Torres of incompetence and unprofessional conduct in its complaint.
The board is requesting that Torres’ registered nurse license be revoked or suspended and that her public health nurse certificate also be revoked or suspended.
The board is also requesting that Torres be ordered to pay for the costs of the investigation and enforcement of the case.
Where she is: After leaving Fresno Unified, it appears that Torres has started her own educational consulting business.
According to a Facebook post, Torres has started EduHealth Advocacy Group, which provides assistance to families needing help with special education and health issues.
Previous lawsuits: Torres has had a prior history of lawsuits before facing the accusations of incompetence and unprofessional conduct from the Board of Registered Nursing.
Two years ago, three Fresno Unified nurses sued the district for age discrimination claiming that Torres gave positions to younger nurses. The district reached a $1.76 million settlement earlier this year.
Another lawsuit accused Her of nepotism when she was the district’s deputy superintendent by encouraging Torres to apply to be the Director of Health Services despite only having a nursing credential for less than three years.