Failure to Ensure Resident Dignity During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident, who is cognitively intact and has diagnoses including epilepsy, primary hypertension, and venous thrombosis with embolism, did not receive her prescribed anti-seizure medications (Keppra and Oxcarbazepine) on time. The resident reported that on a Sunday evening, she was supposed to receive her medications between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM but did not receive them until 1:00 AM. When she inquired about her seizure medications, the agency nurse on duty responded curtly, stating, 'Well, I guess you will just have to have a seizure.' The LPN involved acknowledged being overwhelmed that night and admitted to being curt with the resident, confirming that the medications were administered late. The Director of Nursing stated that such a response was unacceptable and harsh. The resident expressed feeling disrespected, unprofessional treatment, and a loss of dignity as a result of the nurse's comment and the delay in receiving her medications.