Failure to Provide Privacy During G-Tube Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) failed to provide privacy to a resident during the administration of medication through a gastrostomy tube (g-tube). The LVN did not pull the privacy curtain while administering the medication, resulting in the resident's gown being pulled up and the abdomen and g-tube site exposed. During this time, the resident's roommate was present and walking around the room, further compromising the resident's privacy. The LVN later acknowledged not pulling the curtain and stated that it was necessary to do so to provide privacy and uphold the resident's dignity. The resident involved had severe cognitive impairment and was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living, including feeding via a g-tube. The facility's policy required staff to promote and protect resident privacy, including bodily privacy during care and treatment procedures. Both the LVN and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the privacy curtain should have been pulled during the procedure to maintain the resident's dignity, as outlined in the facility's dignity policy.