Failure to Follow Professional Standards for PRN Pain Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure professional standards of practice were followed for a resident with multiple diagnoses, including diabetes, right hip fracture, and cognitive communication deficit, who experienced chronic pain. The resident's care plan documented ongoing pain and a goal for pain relief, but physician orders for Oxycodone were written for three different dosages (5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg) every four hours as needed, without specifying parameters for when each dose should be administered. Medication administration records showed that nurses gave varying doses of Oxycodone for overlapping pain levels, with 5 mg given for a pain level of 5, 10 mg for pain levels 4-6, and 15 mg for pain levels 2-8. The ADON confirmed that nurses were inconsistent in administering the medication and had not contacted the physician to clarify the dosing parameters.