Finding Description
Based on interview and record review, it was determined that for one (R5) out of nine residents reviewed for medication administration, the facility failed to ensure that R5 received the correct dose of morphine sulfate for pain when R5 erroneously received 15 mL (milliliter) of the concentrated morphine sulfate oral solution instead of the physician prescribed dose of 0.25 mL on 12/7/25 at 10:58 AM. With this significant medication error, R5 was at risk of a severe, life-threatening respiratory depression or death. R5 was administered Naloxone 0.4 mg/mL intramuscularly two times to reverse R5's overdosage on 12/7/25 at 4:13 PM and 8:02 PM. An immediate Jeopardy (IJ) was identified starting 12/7/25. Due to the facility's corrective measures following the last incident, this is being cited as immediate jeopardy, past non - compliance with an abatement date of 12/11/25. Findings include: A facility policy titled Medication Administration, dated 1/13/26, documented, It is the policy of this facility to ensure that all medications are administered safely, accurately, timely, and in accordance with physician's orders, federal and state regulations . Medication administration shall comply with the Rights of Medication Administration . Definitions . Medication Administration Rights: Right resident, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, right reason, right response. Review of R5's clinical record revealed:8/16/19 - R5 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses including but not limited to dementia.9/25/25 - R5's quarterly MDS (Minimum Data Set) assessment revealed that R5's cognition was moderately impaired with a BIMS score of 10 and was receiving opioids (a class of drugs used primarily to treat moderate - to - severe pain).11/21/25 - R5 had a physician's order for 0.25 mL = 5 mg (milligram) morphine sulfate (an opioid concentrate) oral solution every three hours as needed for pain.12/7/25 7:04 AM - R5 had a new physician's order for MS Contin (morphine sulfate) oral tablet extended release 15 mg by mouth two times a day for pain. 12/7/25 4:43 PM - A nurse progress note documented, At about 1530 (3:30 PM) during rounds on (unit), the outgoing nurse called me because 300 mg morphine sol (sic) was given to [R5]. [P1] (facility Medical Director) was called, family was made aware and Hospice was too (sic). [R5] monitor for any changes.12/7/25 7:11 PM - A nurse progress note documented, Late entry at 1520 (3:20 PM) order from [P1] for naloxone (medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids). Naloxone was given at 1613 (4:13 PM). 12/7/25 7:44 PM - A nurse progress note documented, Naloxone HCL (hydrochloride) Injection Solution 0.4 MG/ML Inject 0.4 mg/ml intramuscularly STAT (at once/immediately) for overdose.12/7/25 8:02 PM - A nurse progress noted documented, gave 2nd dose of Naloxone 0.4 mg/ml per [P1].12/7/25 - A written statement by E30 (LPN) documented, On December 7, 2025 at about 0900 am (sic), I made a medication error during my morning medication pass. I administered 15 mL of morphine to a patient [R5] instead of the intended dose of 0.25 mL. The system displayed the ordered dose of morphine 15 mg, while the patient's bottle label stated 0.25 mL. I sought clarification from my supervisor, who confirmed that I should follow the dose listed in the patient's MAR (Medication Administration Record) in the system. Unfortunately, I incorrectly interpreted 15 mg as 15 mL. 12/7/25 - A written statement by E19 (3-11 shift RN Supervisor) documented, During my rounds on (unit) the off going (sic) nurse [E30] called me and she said 'I made a medication error on the narcotic' . I called [P1] and notified her of the error . 12/8/25 9:12 AM - A physician note by P1 documented, I was notified yesterday, 12/7/25 at 3:30 PM by nursing staff that pt (patient) was given 15 ml of liquid morphine by floor nurse at 930 AM 12/7/25. Liquid morphine has concentration of 20 mg/ml so pt was given 300 mg of morphine instead of 5 mg. I was told that the nurse made a mistake. I was told that pt's sleepy but vitals are stable. I requested 0.4 mg Narcan to be administered. I called back at 5 PM and was told that pt's heart rate is dropping, so I ordered another dose of Narcan 0.4 mg. I also advised staff to hold all PO meds until further orders. I called back at 9 PM, and I was told that pt is stable and is resting. I have emailed DON and Administrator today to set up a call to investigate this grave med error and so that we can do a root cause analysis.12/10/25 - A facility follow up report documented that approximately 9:00 AM E30 administered 15 mL of morphine sulfate concentrate to R5 after reading morphine 15 mg 1 tablet on the MAR. During the shift exchange (between 7-3 and 3-11) E30 recognized the error in administration of mL versus mg. The follow up report further documented, [R5] had order for Morphine Sulfate Solution 100 mg/5mL give 0.25 mL every 3 hours as needed. On 12/7 [R5] had new order for MS Contin oral tablet give 15 mg two times a day for pain which was pending delivery from the pharmacy . Upon identification of medication error, [R5] was assessed and monitored. [P1] was notified and order was given for Narcan (Naloxone), which was administered twice. [R5] was placed on alert charting and vital signs, respiratory status and mentation monitored. [P1] gave order to hold medications . 1/22/26 2:20 PM - In an interview, E12 (RN) stated that she was the supervisor on 12/7/25 during the 7-3 shift. E12 stated that on that morning she was doing her rounds and was walking to E30's unit on her way to see another resident. E12 stated she saw E30 who was passing meds. E30 stopped her to ask what to do when a resident's narcotic medication ran low, and whether to administer the last dose of the medication or to hold it. E12 stated that she told E30 to administer the medication as ordered by the physician and to call the doctor and pharmacy for refill. E12 further stated, I did not know what specific narcotic medication she was talking about. I thought it was just a general procedure question that she asked me as I walked past her on my way to another resident's room. At the end of our day shift, I was notified by the incoming nurse that [E30] gave the wrong dose of medication to [R5]. 1/22/26 3:34 PM - During an interview, E16 (LPN) stated that she worked on 12/7/25 and was the incoming and reliving nurse on the 3 - 11 shift. E16 stated that she saw E30 looking at the narcotic book and told her that R5 ran out of the concentrated morphine sulfate. E16 stated that she worked a double shift (7-3 and 3-11) the day before on the same unit with R5 on her assignment and was familiar with R5's morphine sulfate dosage order. E12 further stated, I know [R5] gets 0.25 mL morphine sulfate every three hours when needed for pain. I left my shift at 11:00 PM on 12/6/25, with [R5's] 17.25 mL remaining morphine sulfate concentrate in the bottle. [E30] informed me that she gave 15 mL morphine sulfate concentrate to [R5]. The facility failed to ensure that R5 was free from significant medication administration error when R5 received 15 ml of the concentrated morphine sulfate oral solution instead of the ordered dose of 0.25 ml on 12/7/25 at 10:58 AM. This resulted in a significant medication error for R5 who received 59 more doses of the morphine sulfate solution than the prescribed physician order.1/27/26 10:45 AM - An Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) was called and reviewed with the facility leadership including E1 (NHA). During this conference, E1 confirmed that there had been no other incidents of significant medication error after the 12/7/25 incident. 1/22/26 - E1 (NHA) presented to surveyor an acceptable documentation of corrective action plan that was fully abated on 12/11/25. The facility's corrective actions at the time of the incident included:1. Upon discovery of the medication error, R5 was immediately assessed, and physician was notified. New order for Narcan (Naloxone) obtained and administered out of an abundance of caution. R5's responsible party and Hospice were also notified. R5 was placed on alert charting to monitor vital signs and respiratory status. R5 remains in the facility and had no adverse outcomes related to the medication error.2. All residents with orders for liquid morphine have the potential to be affected by this deficient practice. An audit was completed on like residents receiving morphine and no other errors were identified. An audit of like residents receiving controlled substances was completed to determine if any other residents had orders for the same medication in two different forms and no other residents were identified. 3. The facility conducted a root cause analysis, and it was determined that the assigned nurse failed to perform the five rights of medication administration when the nurse misinterpreted 15 mg as 15 ml. Education with licensed nurses was completed on five rights of medication administration. Education was completed on 12/11/25. Medication error was reviewed with medical director at an ad hoc QAPI meeting on 12/10/25. The facility was back in substantial compliance on 12/11/25.4. Director of Nursing will conduct audits of liquid morphine medication administration. The audits will be performed weekly or until 100% compliance is achieved for 3 consecutive weeks. Audits will continue monthly until 100% compliance is achieved for 3 consecutive months. Once 100% compliance is met, the deficient practice will be considered resolved. All audits will be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Committee.No immediate action required related to past non-compliance. This was verified by review of facility documents and interview with facility staff and residents.1/27/25 5:45 PM - Findings were reviewed at the exit conference with E1 (NHA) and E2 (DON).