Finding Description
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Based on record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 resident (#49), out of 5 residents observed for medication administration, was appropriately assessed for safe self-administration of medications. This failed practice placed the resident at risk of medication errors and adverse outcomes.
Findings:
Record review on 5/7/25 revealed Resident #49 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses that included cellulitis of the right lower limb (a bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling, and pain), other chronic pain, and arthritis of the right knee due to other bacteria (inflammation of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling).
An observation on 5/6/25 at 12:14 PM, revealed a medication cup containing two tablets of Tylenol sitting on Resident #49's bedside table.
Review of Resident #49's Electronic Medication Administration Record (EMAR), dated 5/6/25, revealed an entry which documented that two tablets of Tylenol were administered at 12:00 PM.
During an interview on 5/6/25 at 12:29 PM, Resident #49 stated the nurses usually left his/her medications in his/her room. He/she would take the two Tylenol with lunch or sometimes he/she would take it later.
An observation on 5/7/25 at 9:00 AM, revealed Licensed Nurse (LN) #4 prepared and administered medications for Resident #49. LN #4 handed the resident a medication cup containing 9 medications, asked the resident to rate his/her pain level, and then exited the room. LN #4 did not observe the resident to ensure he/she ingested the medications. The medications included a controlled substance, oxycodone (an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain, with potential for abuse and dependence).
Further observation revealed the medications that were left with the resident, without being observed as being taken, were:
- Entresto (a medication used to treat heart failure) 49mg/51mg tablet;
- Eliquis (a blood thinner used to reduce risk of stroke and blood clots) 5mg tablet;
- Allopurinol (a medication used for gout and kidney stone prevention) 100mg tablet;
- Florastor (a probiotic used to promote gut health) 250mg capsule;
- Metoprolol succinate (a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and to reduce heart rate) ER (extended release) 50mg tablet;
- Jardiance (a medication that lowers blood sugar) 10mg tablet;
- Eplerenone (a medication used to treat high blood pressure and/or heart failure) 25mg tablet;
- Torsemide (a medication used to reduce fluid buildup in the body) 20mg tablet; and
- Oxycodone (a federally controlled substance, opioid pain medication) 5mg tablet.
During an interview on 5/7/25 at 11:00 AM, LN #4 stated, [Resident # 49] takes the medications [himself/herself]. [He/She] is very independent, so we don't stand over [him/her]. There is an order to leave the medication with [him/her].
During an interview on 5/7/25 at 2:55 PM, when asked if it was appropriate for the LN's to leave medication with the residents, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated there was, No medication the nurse should walk away from . The nurse should watch the resident swallow the medication.
When asked to provide a medication self-administration assessment or a physician's order authorizing medications to be left with Resident #49, the facility was unable to provide either document.
Record review of Resident #49's current care plan, undated, revealed no documentation of Resident #49 being able to self-administer his/her own medications.
Record review of Resident #49's PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR 05/07/2025, revealed no orders for self-administered medications.
Review of the facility's policy Administering Medications, dated 11/6/23, revealed: Residents may self-administer their own medications only if the attending physician, in conjunction with the interdisciplinary care planning team, has determined that they have the decision-making capacity to do so safely.
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Based on record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 resident (#49), out of 5 residents observed for medication administration, was appropriately assessed for safe self-administration of medications. This failed practice placed the resident at risk of medication errors and adverse outcomes.
Findings:
Record review on 5/7/25 revealed Resident #49 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses that included cellulitis of the right lower limb (a bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling, and pain), other chronic pain, and arthritis of the right knee due to other bacteria (inflammation of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling).
An observation on 5/6/25 at 12:14 PM, revealed a medication cup containing two tablets of Tylenol sitting on Resident #49's bedside table.
Review of Resident #49's Electronic Medication Administration Record (EMAR), dated 5/6/25, revealed an entry which documented that two tablets of Tylenol were administered at 12:00 PM.
During an interview on 5/6/25 at 12:29 PM, Resident #49 stated the nurses usually left his/her medications in his/her room. He/she would take the two Tylenol with lunch or sometimes he/she would take it later.
An observation on 5/7/25 at 9:00 AM, revealed Licensed Nurse (LN) #4 prepared and administered medications for Resident #49. LN #4 handed the resident a medication cup containing 9 medications, asked the resident to rate his/her pain level, and then exited the room. LN #4 did not observe the resident to ensure he/she ingested the medications. The medications included a controlled substance, oxycodone (an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain, with potential for abuse and dependence).
Further observation revealed the medications that were left with the resident, without being observed as being taken, were:
- Entresto (a medication used to treat heart failure) 49mg/51mg tablet;
- Eliquis (a blood thinner used to reduce risk of stroke and blood clots) 5mg tablet;
- Allopurinol (a medication used for gout and kidney stone prevention) 100mg tablet;
- Florastor (a probiotic used to promote gut health) 250mg capsule;
- Metoprolol succinate (a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and to reduce heart rate) ER (extended release) 50mg tablet;
- Jardiance (a medication that lowers blood sugar) 10mg tablet;
- Eplerenone (a medication used to treat high blood pressure and/or heart failure) 25mg tablet;
- Torsemide (a medication used to reduce fluid buildup in the body) 20mg tablet; and
- Oxycodone (a federally controlled substance, opioid pain medication) 5mg tablet.
During an interview on 5/7/25 at 11:00 AM, LN #4 stated, [Resident # 49] takes the medications [himself/herself]. [He/She] is very independent, so we don't stand over [him/her]. There is an order to leave the medication with [him/her].
During an interview on 5/7/25 at 2:55 PM, when asked if it was appropriate for the LN's to leave medication with the residents, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated there was, No medication the nurse should walk away from . The nurse should watch the resident swallow the medication.
When asked to provide a medication self-administration assessment or a physician's order authorizing medications to be left with Resident #49, the facility was unable to provide either document.
Record review of Resident #49's current care plan, undated, revealed no documentation of Resident #49 being able to self-administer his/her own medications.
Record review of Resident #49's PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR 05/07/2025, revealed no orders for self-administered medications.
Review of the facility's policy Administering Medications, dated 11/6/23, revealed: Residents may self-administer their own medications only if the attending physician, in conjunction with the interdisciplinary care planning team, has determined that they have the decision-making capacity to do so safely.
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