Failure to Secure Foley Catheter Tubing as Required by Policy
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with an indwelling Foley catheter was observed with the catheter tubing unsecured inside their night pants, and the catheter bag hanging at the back of the wheelchair. The securement device intended to anchor the catheter tubing was found to be broken, and the tubing was not secured to the resident's thigh as required by facility policy. Licensed Vocational Nurse 4 confirmed that the tubing should have been secured to prevent pinching, pulling, or trauma during movement. The resident in question had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anxiety, and severely impaired cognition, and required varying levels of assistance with daily activities. The care plan specified the use of an indwelling catheter for obstructive uropathy, with a goal to prevent catheter-related trauma. Both the Director of Nursing and facility policy confirmed that the catheter should be anchored to reduce friction and movement at the insertion site, but this was not done at the time of observation.