Medication Administered by Incorrect Route
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a history of congestive heart failure and obesity, who was capable of making decisions and communicating effectively, did not receive medication as ordered by the physician. The physician's order specified that Furosemide oral solution was to be administered by mouth once daily. However, during a medication pass, a registered nurse was observed administering the Furosemide through the resident's feeding tube instead of by mouth. Upon review of the resident's records, including the care plan and physician orders, it was confirmed that the medication was not given via the prescribed route. The facility's policy on medication administration requires that medications be given according to prescriber orders. The nurse acknowledged that administering medication by an incorrect route could have negative effects and that the medication should have been given by mouth as ordered.