Failure to Train Staff on Chemotherapy Waste Management Procedures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop, implement, and maintain an effective training program for staff, specifically regarding care procedures for residents receiving chemotherapy. Despite a physician's order for a resident diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma to flush the toilet twice with the lid down after use, the facility did not update the resident's Kardex with this information. Additionally, the shared restroom used by the resident and another individual did not have a commode lid, and the posted instructions were unclear. Nurse aides interviewed were not provided with education on proper waste disposal or on preventing exposure to chemotherapy drug waste, and they expressed confusion about the instructions due to the absence of a commode lid. The facility assessment indicated that care for chemotherapy patients was not previously common, and both the Nursing Home Administrator and Director of Nursing confirmed that staff had not received training on this topic. The lack of training and clear procedures resulted in staff being unprepared to safely manage waste from a resident undergoing chemotherapy, as evidenced by their inability to interpret or follow the posted instructions and the absence of relevant information in the resident's care documentation.