Failure to Verify PICC Line Patency Prior to IV Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) prepared and administered intravenous (IV) Meropenem to a resident with a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line without first checking for blood return to verify patency of the line. The LPN sanitized and flushed the PICC line with normal saline and initiated the antibiotic infusion, but did not aspirate for blood return prior to flushing or administering the medication. During an interview, the LPN stated that aspiration was only performed if there was a physician order, and otherwise the line was simply flushed before medication administration. Further interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility's protocol and professional standards require checking for patency by aspirating for blood return before flushing and administering medications via a PICC line. Review of the facility's policy also specified that aspiration for blood return is necessary to verify vascular access device patency prior to flushing. The failure to follow this procedure resulted in the resident not receiving IV therapy in accordance with professional standards of practice.