Failure to Secure Indwelling Catheter and Prevent Tubing from Contacting Floor
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with urinary retention, who had an indwelling urinary catheter, was observed with the catheter drainage bag and tubing lying on the floor beside the bed. The resident was cognitively intact and had a physician's order for the catheter. Multiple observations revealed that the catheter tubing was not secured to the resident's leg, and attempts by a nursing assistant to secure the tubing to the bed were unsuccessful, leaving the tubing on the floor. The nursing assistant reported the lack of a secure strap to a nurse, but the issue was not addressed. Interviews with staff confirmed awareness of the problem. The nurse acknowledged being informed about the unsecured catheter but stated she forgot to address it. Both the Director of Nursing and the Administrator confirmed that the catheter bag and tubing should not have been on the floor and that a device should have been used to secure the tubing. These actions and inactions led to the failure to provide appropriate catheter care and to prevent potential infection risks.