Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure sanitary practices were performed during medication administration. This affected three residents (#22, #29, and #136) out of twelve observed during medication administration. The facility census was 29.
Findings include:
1. Review of the medical record for Resident #29 revealed an admission date of 12/23/24 with diagnoses including pulmonary hypertension, gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, hypertension, cardiomegaly, and chronic systolic heart failure.
Review of the care plans dated 01/02/25 and 03/10/25 revealed Resident #29 had chronic cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal conditions, with an approach to administer medications as ordered by the physician.
Review of physician orders dated 03/26/25 revealed an order for Carvedilol 6.25 milligrams (mg), one tablet, scheduled between 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
Review of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #29 had no cognitive impairment.
Review of physician orders dated 04/04/25 revealed an order for Protonix delayed-release 40 mg, one tablet, scheduled between 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:05 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Protonix and Carvedilol, each in a single-dose blister pod, were prepared for administration. LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening in the blister pod. The tablets were then removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
2. Review of the medical record for Resident #22 revealed an admission date of 04/23/20 with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease, mild cognitive impairment, mood disorder, and ataxic gait.
Review of physician orders dated 12/17/24 revealed Resident #22 was ordered Sinemet (anti-Parkinson ' s medication) 1.5 tablets, 25-100 milligrams (mg) every three hours.
Review of quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #22 had severe cognitive impairment.
Review of the care plan dated 03/02/25 revealed Resident #22 had Parkinson's disease, with an approach to administer medications/treatments as ordered.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:15 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Sinemet located in a single-dose blister pod. To open the pod, LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening. The tablet was removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
3. Review of the medical record for Resident #136 revealed an admission date of 05/20/25 with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease, lack of coordination, cognitive communication deficit, difficulty walking, and history of falls.
Review of physician orders dated 05/20/25 revealed Resident #136 was ordered Sinemet 25-100 milligrams (mg) one tablet three times daily at 8:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., and 8:00 P.M.
Review of Resident #136's care plan dated 05/27/25 revealed a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, with an approach to administer medications/treatments as ordered.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:21 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Sinemet located in a single-dose blister pod. To open the pod, LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening. The tablet was removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
Interview on 05/28/25 at 12:31 P.M. with LPN #14 confirmed that single-dose blister pods for Residents #22, #29, and #136 were opened with the tip of a pen that was located on the nurses cart during the entire medication administration. Additionally, the pen was left unattended and had never received sanitation. LPN #14 acknowledged the potential infection risk, confirming that the pills passed through the potentially contaminated opening before being placed into the medication cup.
Interview on 05/29/25 at 10:00 A.M. with the Director of Nursing confirmed the potential infection risk associated with using a contaminated pen to open single-dose blister pods.
Review of medication administration policy dated January 2025 revealed medications are administered as prescribed in accordance with manufacturers' specifications, good nursing principles, and practices. Additionally, during medication administration, staff should avoid touching any of the medication unless wearing gloves.
Findings include:
1. Review of the medical record for Resident #29 revealed an admission date of 12/23/24 with diagnoses including pulmonary hypertension, gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, hypertension, cardiomegaly, and chronic systolic heart failure.
Review of the care plans dated 01/02/25 and 03/10/25 revealed Resident #29 had chronic cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal conditions, with an approach to administer medications as ordered by the physician.
Review of physician orders dated 03/26/25 revealed an order for Carvedilol 6.25 milligrams (mg), one tablet, scheduled between 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
Review of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #29 had no cognitive impairment.
Review of physician orders dated 04/04/25 revealed an order for Protonix delayed-release 40 mg, one tablet, scheduled between 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:05 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Protonix and Carvedilol, each in a single-dose blister pod, were prepared for administration. LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening in the blister pod. The tablets were then removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
2. Review of the medical record for Resident #22 revealed an admission date of 04/23/20 with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease, mild cognitive impairment, mood disorder, and ataxic gait.
Review of physician orders dated 12/17/24 revealed Resident #22 was ordered Sinemet (anti-Parkinson ' s medication) 1.5 tablets, 25-100 milligrams (mg) every three hours.
Review of quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #22 had severe cognitive impairment.
Review of the care plan dated 03/02/25 revealed Resident #22 had Parkinson's disease, with an approach to administer medications/treatments as ordered.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:15 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Sinemet located in a single-dose blister pod. To open the pod, LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening. The tablet was removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
3. Review of the medical record for Resident #136 revealed an admission date of 05/20/25 with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease, lack of coordination, cognitive communication deficit, difficulty walking, and history of falls.
Review of physician orders dated 05/20/25 revealed Resident #136 was ordered Sinemet 25-100 milligrams (mg) one tablet three times daily at 8:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M., and 8:00 P.M.
Review of Resident #136's care plan dated 05/27/25 revealed a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, with an approach to administer medications/treatments as ordered.
Observation on 05/28/25 at 12:21 P.M. during medication administration with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #14 revealed Sinemet located in a single-dose blister pod. To open the pod, LPN #14 used the tip of a pen retrieved from a stack of papers on the medication cart to create a U-shaped opening. The tablet was removed through the opening, and the pen was returned to the paper.
Interview on 05/28/25 at 12:31 P.M. with LPN #14 confirmed that single-dose blister pods for Residents #22, #29, and #136 were opened with the tip of a pen that was located on the nurses cart during the entire medication administration. Additionally, the pen was left unattended and had never received sanitation. LPN #14 acknowledged the potential infection risk, confirming that the pills passed through the potentially contaminated opening before being placed into the medication cup.
Interview on 05/29/25 at 10:00 A.M. with the Director of Nursing confirmed the potential infection risk associated with using a contaminated pen to open single-dose blister pods.
Review of medication administration policy dated January 2025 revealed medications are administered as prescribed in accordance with manufacturers' specifications, good nursing principles, and practices. Additionally, during medication administration, staff should avoid touching any of the medication unless wearing gloves.