Lack of Nurse Competency for Hemovac Drain Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff possessed the appropriate competencies and skill sets to provide care for residents with specific needs, as required by the facility assessment. Record review showed that the facility's resident population may include individuals with surgical wounds, and that nurse competencies should be completed during orientation, annually, and as dictated by resident care needs. Despite this, two LPNs who cared for a resident with a Hemovac drain following spinal fusion surgery reported not receiving any training specific to Hemovac drain care prior to providing care. The facility's policy on surgical wound treatment outlines the importance of proper management of closed-wound drains, including Hemovac drains, but the required competencies were not provided to the nursing staff. Interviews with the LPNs and the Director of Nursing Services confirmed that the facility did not provide education or competencies related to Hemovac drain care for any nursing staff. Documentation showed that a resident was admitted with a surgical wound and Hemovac drain, and staff were responsible for the care of this device without having received the necessary training. This lack of training and competency assessment was identified for 2 of 5 staff reviewed, resulting in a failure to ensure resident safety and the maintenance of the highest practicable well-being as required by regulation.