Failure to Use PPE During Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for a resident requiring enhanced barrier precautions. During observation, an LPN entered the room of a resident with a traumatic brain injury and a need for assistance with personal care to administer medications via enteral tube, but did not don gown and gloves as required by the facility's Enhanced Barrier Precautions policy. The policy specifies that gown and glove use is necessary during high-contact resident care activities, and the medication administration policy also lists PPE as required equipment. The LPN acknowledged that the signage outside the resident's room indicated the need for enhanced barrier precautions and admitted that gown and gloves should have been worn prior to administering the medication. The administrator confirmed that PPE is required for direct care of residents with devices such as PEG tubes.