Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene During Medication Administration and Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper hand hygiene practices were followed during medication administration and wound care, as observed and confirmed by staff interviews. During medication administration in the dining room, a medication aide did not perform hand hygiene between preparing and administering medications to three different residents. The aide acknowledged not following the required hand hygiene protocol during these interactions. Additionally, during wound care for a resident, a registered nurse did not perform hand hygiene between glove changes while treating multiple wounds. The nurse was observed changing gloves several times without using alcohol-based hand rub or washing hands between glove changes, despite handling different wound sites and supplies. Both the nurse and the Director of Nursing confirmed that hand hygiene should have been performed between glove changes, in accordance with facility policy and CDC guidelines.