Failure to Administer Ordered Eye Drops
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with diagnoses of anemia, heart failure, and hypertension did not receive medication as ordered by the physician. The physician's order specified that artificial tear solution was to be administered as one drop in both eyes twice daily. During a medication pass observation, an LPN prepared the resident's medications and placed the artificial tears in her pocket but failed to administer the eye drops to the resident as required. The LPN continued with medication administration for other residents without returning to provide the missed eye drops. Upon inquiry, the LPN acknowledged that the eye drops had not been given as ordered. Facility policies reviewed indicated that medications are to be administered safely and as prescribed, and that physician orders must be followed and carried out by authorized personnel. The failure to administer the prescribed eye drops constituted a significant medication error for this resident.