Failure to Disinfect Blood Pressure Equipment During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) failed to follow proper infection control procedures during medication administration for a resident. The LPN took the resident's blood pressure using a portable BP machine and cuff without disinfecting the equipment before or after use. After obtaining the blood pressure reading, the LPN placed the BP machine on top of the medication cart and proceeded to prepare and administer oral medication to the resident, still without disinfecting the equipment. The LPN completed the medication pass and left the BP machine on the medication cart without cleaning it. When questioned about the lack of disinfection, the LPN acknowledged forgetting to disinfect both the BP machine and cuff before and after use. The facility's policy requires that reusable medical equipment be cleaned with an approved disinfectant between each resident use, a procedure that was not followed in this instance.