Failure to Monitor and Respond to Diabetic Residents' Conditions
Summary
Nursing staff failed to identify the seriousness of a change in condition for a resident with insulin-dependent diabetes and provide thorough ongoing monitoring and comprehensive assessments. On one occasion, a nurse reported that a resident was sleepy all day, but the resident was not assessed until several hours later, at which point she was only responsive to painful stimuli. The nurse did not check the resident's blood sugar and there was a significant delay in contacting Emergency Medical Services (EMS), resulting in the resident being transferred to the emergency room in an unresponsive state with a blood sugar level of 74 mg/dL. The resident was later diagnosed with metabolic encephalopathy and expired after being transferred to hospice care. Another resident with insulin-dependent diabetes was admitted to the facility, but the facility failed to administer sliding scale insulin as per the hospital discharge summary or monitor blood sugar levels according to physician orders. The resident reported extreme thirst and requested a blood sugar check, which revealed a dangerously high level of 548 mg/dL. This indicated a potential diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication of diabetes. The facility's failure to monitor and administer insulin as ordered contributed to the resident's critical condition. Additionally, the facility failed to assess a resident for the cause of significant weight gain and edema. The deficient practices occurred for three sampled residents, highlighting a pattern of inadequate monitoring, assessment, and communication among nursing staff. These failures led to immediate jeopardy situations for the residents involved, necessitating corrective actions to address the deficiencies and prevent recurrence.
Removal Plan
- The Regional Director of Clinical Services educated Nurse #1 and Paramedic #1 on effective communication between staff during a Medical Emergency, timely assessment, monitoring, and assessment of change of condition including Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations, Temp, oxygen saturation and Blood Sugar if resident is a Diabetic.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee immediately audited the Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation and progress notes of residents sent to hospital to confirm that no delay in assessment, monitoring or transfer to hospital occurred. No negative findings were found.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee audited Nursing progress notes to ensure no change of conditions were found and not followed up on in a timely manner. No negative findings were found.
- The Social Worker/Administrator or Designee interviewed residents with a BIMS of 12 or above regarding if they have had a change of condition that was not followed up on immediately and if they felt they had a delay in treatment.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee audited Nursing progress notes of residents with a BIMS of less than 12 to ensure residents had no change of condition that was not followed up on immediately. No negative findings were noted.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee interviewed all nursing and therapy staff regarding knowledge of any residents having change of conditions that were not addressed. No negative findings were noted.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee educated all Certified Nursing Assistants on reporting any change of condition of residents to the nurse immediately. The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure Certified Nursing Assistants that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee educated Licensed Nurses and Paramedics on timely assessment and monitoring and assessment of change of condition including Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations, Temperature, Oxygen Saturation and Blood Sugar if resident is a Diabetic. The Licensed Nurses and Paramedics that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift. The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure Licensed Nurses and Paramedics that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift.
- Director of Nursing or Designee educated all staff on effective communication between staff members during a Medical Emergency. The staff that were not working will be trained prior to their next shift. The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure all staff that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee educated all Licensed Nurses and Paramedics on observing and assessing residents for change of condition from baseline and communicating to provider for follow up and treatment in a timely manner. The Licensed Nurses and Paramedics that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift. The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure Licensed Nurses and Paramedics that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee educated all Licensed Nurses and Paramedics on recognizing serious decline of cognition and responsiveness of resident as an emergent occurrence and to contact provider and transfer to hospital immediately. The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure Licensed Nurses and Paramedics that were not working will be educated prior to their next shift.
- Ad Hoc QAPI was completed regarding effective communication between staff in Medical Emergencies, timeliness of assessment, monitoring, and following provider orders to include transferring resident to hospital related to change of condition.
- The Regional Director of Clinical Services educated the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Scheduler and Human Resources on the orientation process that will include education on recognizing change of condition, effective communication during a Medical Emergency, timely assessment and monitoring, and assessment of change of condition including Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations, Temp, oxygen saturation, and Blood Sugar if resident is a Diabetic.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure newly hired Licensed Nurses or Paramedics receive education during Orientation on the Effective Communication during a Medical Emergency, timely assessment, monitoring, and assessment of change of condition including Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations, Temp, oxygen saturation and Blood Sugar if resident is a Diabetic.
- The Director of Nursing or Designee will ensure Agency Staff receive education on Effective Communication during a Medical Emergency, timely assessment, monitoring, and assessment of change of condition including Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respirations, Temp, oxygen saturation and Blood Sugar if resident is a Diabetic prior to first shift of working in facility.
Penalty
Resources
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