Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical review, observations, resident interview, family interview, staff interview and review of the facility bowel protocol, the facility failed to ensure wound/skin dressings were properly applied for two (#8 and #25) of two residents reviewed for skin conditions requiring dressing changes. In addition, the facility failed to implement their bowel protocol after a resident had no bowel movement for over three days. This affected one resident (#429) of one reviewed for constipation. The facility census was 81.
Findings include:
1. Medical record review for Resident #8 revealed the resident was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including generalized osteoarthritis, dementia without behaviors, overactive bladder, major depression, and edema (swelling).
Review of the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE] revealed the resident scored a nine on the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS), indicating she had moderate cognitive deficits. She required extensive assistance of two staff for transfers. She was non-ambulatory, had occasional incontinence of urine, and was always continent of bowel. She did not have skin breakdown.
Review of the plan of care dated 04/01/22 revealed the resident was at risk for skin breakdown and currently had skin tears on her lower legs. Interventions included to provide treatments and provide treatments as ordered by the physician.
Review of the June 2022 physician orders revealed an order to cleanse the skin tears on the left lower leg, apply xeroform (petroleum based for skin tears) dressing, cover with ABD (extra thick secondary protective dressing), and wrap with gauze daily.
Observation on 06/14/22 at 8:50 A.M. revealed Resident #8 seated in a wheelchair in the dining room with a large amount of light red drainage on her left sock.
Interview on 06/14/22 at 8:55 A.M. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) #635 stated Resident #8 had dressing changes completed in the evenings. LPN #635 verified she was unaware of the fact the resident had a large amount of what appeared to be moist light red drainage on her sock. LPN #625 stated she would change the dressing after she was done with medication administration.
Observation on 06/14/22 at 10:30 A.M. revealed Resident 8 was in the beauty shop getting her hair done. There was still a large amount of light red drainage noted on her sock.
Observation on 06/14/22 at 11:05 A.M. of wound care for Resident #8 revealed LPN #625 moistened several washcloths with water. LPN #625 donned gloves and removed the resident's white mid-calf sock. The sock had a large amount of light red drainage on it. There was no dressing observed on the resident's open wounds. The resident complaint the procedure was very painful. When asked where the old dressing was, LPN #625 reported the wound nurse saw the resident's that morning and had not changed the treatment to the open areas. The resident was observed to have edema in her left lower leg and foot. The leg appeared red. LPN #625 reported the resident's lower leg was more swollen than normal and was warm to the touch. LPN #625 reported the physician saw the resident on 06/13/22 and ordered an antibiotic, which would be started 06/14/22. LPN #625 continued providing wound care to Resident #8. LPN #625 cleansed a C-shaped skin tear, a triangular shaped open area, and an open area of the posterior portion of the leg. Xeroform dressing was applied and covered with an ABD (extra thick secondary dressing) and wrapped with gauze. LPN #625 applied clean socks to the resident. LPN #625 verified there were no dressings on open areas to the residents left lower leg since approximately 9:00 A.M. when she was seen by the wound nurse.
Interview on 06/14/22 at 1:20 P.M. the Director of Nursing (DON) verified a dressing should always be applied to an open wound. It was not the facility's policy to leave a dressing off a wound for another nurse to address is later. The DON reported Advanced Practice RN #807 was a wound consultant who visited weekly. The DON was unaware Advanced Practice RN #807 was leaving wounds without a dressing until a staff nurse were available to apply the dressing.
2. Medical record review revealed Resident #25 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, mild intellectual disabilities, unspecified psychosis, depressive and anxiety disorders, weakness, and repeated falls.
Review of the MDS assessment dated [DATE] revealed Resident #25 had moderate cognitive impairment. Resident #25 required extensive assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs). The MDS also listed the resident as having a stage III pressure area. Resident #25 utilized an indwelling catheter and was frequently incontinent of bowel.
Review of Resident #25's care plan dated 06/06/22 revealed the resident was at risk for pressure ulcers. Interventions included to provide wound treatments as ordered.
Review of the physician order dated 06/11/22 revealed orders to cleanse coccyx wound with normal saline, apply zinc barrier to peri-wound, apply Medi honey and calcium alginate to wound bed, cover with 4 x 4 gauze and the ABD. Secure with paper tape, change every other day until 07/03/22 and as needed.
Observation on 06/14/22 at 11:30 A.M. revealed Resident #25's wound dressing to the coccyx was not in place. Measurements of the wound were 4.5 centimeters (cm) by 1.2 cm by 0.2 cm. There was moderate serous drainage with 80 percent granulation tissue and 20 percent epithelial.
Interview on 06/14/22 at 11:30 A.M. revealed Registered Nurse (RN) #200 was finishing up the dressing change for Resident #25 and verified there was no dressing applied to the residents coccyx wound. RN #200 verified Advanced Practice RN #807 saw Resident #25 between 8:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. and left the resident's wound exposed without a dressing. RN #200 was unaware the wound was left exposed and was unsure of the exact time the wound was left exposed.
Interview on 06/14/22 at 1:20 P.M. the Director of Nursing (DON) verified a dressing should always be applied to an open wound. It was not the facility's policy to leave a dressing off a wound for another nurse to address is later. The DON reported Advanced Practice RN #807 was a wound consultant who visited weekly. The DON was unaware Advanced Practice RN #807 was leaving wounds without a dressing until a staff nurse were available to apply the dressing. The DON verified Resident #25 was incontinent of bowel and could have had a bowel movement while her wound was left exposed.
3. Review of Resident #429's medical record revealed an admission date of 05/22/22. Diagnoses included fracture of left pubis subsequent encounter, weakness, cognitive communication deficit, and urinary tract infection.
Review of Resident #429's Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 indicating Resident #429 was cognitively intact. Resident #429 required extensive assistance with bed mobility, transfer, dressing, toilet use, and personal hygiene. Resident #429 displayed no behaviors during the review period. Resident #426 was always continent of bowel.
Review of Resident #429's bowel movement tracking revealed Resident #429 went from 06/06/22 to 06/13/22 (six days) with no bowel movements.
Review of Resident #429's physician orders for June 2022 revealed no standing orders to treat constipation. Orders to treat constipation had been discontinued:
Polyethylene glycol 3350 powder 17-gram dose once daily, ordered 05/23/22 and discontinued on 05/31/22.
Senna 8.6 milligrams (mg) two tablets one daily, ordered 05/31/22 and discontinued 06/03/22.
Senna 8.6 mg two tablets once daily, ordered 06/03/22 and discontinued on 06/12/22.
Dulcolax suppository 10 mg insert rectally, ordered, and discontinued 06/06/22.
Further review of physician orders revealed no additional medications/interventions added from 06/06/22 to 06/12/22. Review of the Medication Administration Record (MAR) for June 2022 revealed the Senna ordered 06/03/22 and discontinued 06/12/22 was administered as ordered, however the resident still had not produced a bowel movement and no additional interventions were added until 06/12/22, when Bisacodyl tablet delayed release 10 mg once daily was ordered.
Interview on 06/12/22 at 11:58 A.M. with Resident #429 and her niece found Resident #429 to be somewhat confused. Resident #429 reported she had not pooped in over a week. Resident #429's niece verified Resident #429 had not had a bowel movement but reported it had been about five days and not a full week. Resident #429's niece reported it was still concerning Resident #429 had not had a bowel movement and it appeared the facility had not done anything about it.
Interview on 06/15/22 at 9:08 A.M. with the Director of Nursing (DON) verified Resident #429 had no bowel movements between 06/06/22 and 06/13/22 and no additional interventions were added until 06/12/22.
Review of the facility policy titled, Bowel Management Protocol, revised 10/10/20 revealed the facility was to monitor and identify constipation. An oral laxative was to be administered to every resident who had not had a bowel movement in three consecutive days. If the resident had not had results from the laxative administered earlier in the day the nurse was to administer a suppository after the last medication pass. If the resident still did not experienced results from the suppository administered in the evening, the resident would be given a phosphate enema in the early morning by 6:00 A.M.