Failure to Attempt Nonpharmacological Interventions Before Administering PRN Antianxiety Medication
Penalty
Summary
A review of clinical records and staff interviews determined that the facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from chemical restraints. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including cerebral infarction, cognitive communication deficit, and major depressive disorder, was assessed as moderately cognitively impaired. The resident was prescribed Xanax 0.25 mg orally as needed every 8 hours for 30 days. Facility policy required that nonpharmacological interventions be attempted and documented prior to administering PRN antianxiety medications. During the month of March, the resident received Xanax on three separate occasions. However, the medication administration record and progress notes did not show any evidence that nonpharmacological interventions were attempted before administering the medication. This was confirmed in an interview with the Nursing Home Administrator, who acknowledged that nonpharmacological interventions were not attempted prior to giving the antianxiety medication.