Failure to Post Oxygen in Use Signage for Resident Receiving Oxygen Therapy
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident receiving oxygen therapy did not have an 'Oxygen in Use' sign posted on the outside of their room door, as required by facility policy. During observation, the resident was seen with a nasal cannula connected to an oxygen concentrator set at two liters per minute. The resident confirmed ongoing oxygen use for three months. Staff interviews revealed that the sign was missing, and both the RN and DON acknowledged that the sign should have been posted for safety reasons, in accordance with facility policy. The facility's policies on oxygen therapy and smoking both require visible signage when oxygen is in use in a resident's room. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, asthma, and chronic kidney disease, and was cognitively intact. The resident's care plan included the administration of oxygen and observation of oxygen precautions. Despite these documented needs and orders, the required safety signage was not present at the time of the surveyor's observation.