Unlicensed Staff Administers Medication Against Resident's Wishes
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA), identified as Staff 30, administered medications to a resident diagnosed with brain cancer and stroke, despite not being licensed or permitted to do so according to state regulations and facility policy. The incident began when a certified medication aide (CMA), Staff 29, entered the resident's room to administer morning medications but found Staff 30 providing personal care. Instead of waiting or returning later, Staff 29 left the medications on the bedside table and exited the room. Staff 30 then attempted to administer the medications to the resident, which was outside her scope of practice. Multiple witnesses, including a friend of the resident and other staff members, observed Staff 30 administering the medications by the spoonful, despite the resident's protests and attempts to refuse, including yelling "no, no, no" and spitting the medications back into the cup. Witnesses reported that Staff 30 did not stop when told to do so by both the resident and the friend. The situation escalated until other staff intervened and removed Staff 30 from the room. Interviews with staff and review of facility policy confirmed that only licensed or certified staff are permitted to administer medications, and that staff are expected to stop any action if a resident refuses care.