Inadequate Respiratory Care for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate respiratory care and services for a resident, identified as Resident 19. Observations on multiple occasions revealed that Resident 19's oxygen nasal cannula was left lying on their bed unbagged while the oxygen concentrator was running. Additionally, the resident's nebulizer machine was found sitting on the floor in front of the oxygen concentrator, with the nebulizer tubing also lying on the floor unbagged. These observations were made on April 1, 2, and 3, 2025, and were discussed with the Director of Nursing on April 3, 2025. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, proper cleaning of nebulizer equipment is essential to reduce infection risk, and the equipment should be rinsed, washed with soap and hot water, and stored properly after each use.