Failure to Maintain IV Therapy Competencies for Licensed Nursing Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that six out of eleven licensed nursing staff had current intravenous (IV) therapy certifications or completed annual competencies as required. Review of the IV Therapy Certifications and Infusion Medications Administration Competencies binder revealed that several registered nurses and one LPN did not have documentation of IV therapy certification or recent competency assessments. Some staff had outdated competencies, and others had no record of certification or competency completion at all. The Director of Nursing Services (DNS) confirmed that she was responsible for overseeing the IV therapy program and staff education but acknowledged that the facility did not have up-to-date documentation for these staff members. The DNS stated that IV therapy was not included in the nursing orientation and that, although she had observed and validated the nurses administering IV medications or fluids, there was no formal documentation of these competencies. The facility assessment required all staff to receive education and competency testing in specialized care areas, including IV-line care, and mandated annual competency evaluations for licensed nursing staff in medication administration, including intravenous routes. Despite these requirements, the facility did not provide a policy for IV therapy education or documentation of completed competencies when requested.