Medications Administered Outside Prescribed Time Window
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a licensed vocational nurse administered five scheduled medications to a resident through a gastrostomy tube earlier than the prescribed time. The medications, which included Tylenol Extra Strength, Ferrous Sulfate Liquid, Folic Acid, Sertraline, and Docusate Sodium, were all scheduled for 9:00 a.m. but were given at 7:45 a.m. The nurse acknowledged that administering medications outside the scheduled time could affect their effectiveness. The facility's policy allows for medications to be given within one hour before or after the scheduled time, but this administration was outside that window. The resident involved had significant medical needs, including paraplegia, depression, dementia with severely impaired cognition, and was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living. The resident received nutrition via a feeding tube. The Director of Nursing confirmed that medications should be administered within the specified time frame to ensure therapeutic effectiveness and avoid potential harm, as outlined in the facility's policy.