Failure to Date Tube Feeding Tubing and Maintain Clean Equipment
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident receiving enteral tube feeding did not have the tubing dated as required, and the equipment used for tube feeding was not kept clean. The facility's policy mandates that feeding tubes be managed according to clinical standards, including infection control precautions to minimize contamination. During observation, the tube feeding administration pump and the wheeled pole at the resident's bedside were found to have multiple areas of dried, light brown substance, which was confirmed by a registered nurse to be dried tube feeding residue. The nurse acknowledged that both the pump and pole needed cleaning. Additionally, the tubing used for the resident's tube feeding was not labeled with the date it was first used, as required by facility policy. The nurse located a label on the tubing, but it was blank and did not contain the necessary date. The resident in question was receiving all nutrition and fluids via gastrostomy tube due to dysphagia following a stroke and was NPO (nothing by mouth) at the time of the observation.