Failure to Date Oxygen Tubing During Oxygen Therapy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide respiratory care consistent with professional standards for two residents who were receiving oxygen therapy. During observations, both residents were found using nasal cannulas for oxygen administration, but the oxygen tubing in use was not dated as required. The electronic medication administration record and physician's orders specified that oxygen tubing and bags should be changed and dated weekly, specifically every Thursday during the midnight shift. However, during multiple observations, the tubing for both residents lacked any date, indicating that staff did not follow the established protocol for labeling and dating oxygen equipment. Interviews with the Director of Nursing confirmed that nurses are expected to change, label, and date the oxygen tubing every seven days, in accordance with facility policy. The facility's written policy on oxygen administration also requires that weekly tubing changes be documented and that the tubing be appropriately dated to demonstrate compliance. The failure to date the oxygen tubing as observed for both residents directly contravened these documented procedures and expectations.