Failure to Secure Sharp Objects
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe and sanitary environment as required by regulations. During the survey, a shaving razor was observed protruding from a resistant container in a resident's room. This posed a potential hazard to residents, as the razor was not fully secured within the container. Staff B, an LPN, was notified of the issue and acknowledged that the razor should have been completely inside the sharps container to ensure resident safety. Additionally, lancets were found unattended on top of medication cart #1 at the South nursing station. Staff A, an LPN, admitted to leaving the lancets on top of the cart because they forgot. Later, Staff H, an RN, was observed leaving lancets unattended on the same cart, stating it was acceptable while in use, but then placed them inside the cart when questioned. These actions indicate a lack of adherence to safety protocols regarding the storage of sharp objects. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility's policy requires staff to ensure that shaving razors are fully inside containers and that lancets should not be left unattended on medication carts. The facility's policy on accidents and supervision emphasizes maintaining an environment free of accident hazards and providing adequate supervision to prevent accidents. However, the observations during the survey revealed lapses in following these protocols, leading to the identified deficiencies.
Plan Of Correction
1. What corrective action will be accomplished? The lancets were removed and secured from the top of the medication cart #1. The shaving razor was disposed of and secured in the resistant sharps container. 2. How we identified other residents having the potential to be affected by the deficient practice & corrective action taken: A facility observation audit of medication carts and sharps containers was conducted by the DON/Designee to ensure no lancets were accessible on the medication carts and no objects were protruding from the sharps containers. 3. Measures/systematic changes put into place: The DON/Designee re-educated the nursing staff on the facility policy for "homelike environment" including no lancets accessible, no objects protruding from the sharps containers, and facility policy for accidents and supervision. These educations will be added to new hire and annual education. The DON/designee will conduct daily facility rounds to ensure no lancets are accessible on medication carts and no objects are protruding from sharps containers. 4. How corrective action will be monitored: The DON/Designee will conduct daily (times 5 weeks) observation audit of medication carts and sharps containers to ensure resident safety and homelike environment is maintained. The results of this audit will be reviewed at the monthly QA meeting until compliance has been determined.