Nebulizer Mask Not Stored Safely After Use
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident's nebulizer mask was repeatedly observed left un-bagged on the bedside table during multiple random observations throughout the day. The nebulizer mask was not stored in a safe and sanitary manner as required by facility policy, which specifies that nebulizer equipment should be placed in a plastic bag when not in use. These observations were made despite the resident having recently received a nebulizer treatment, as documented in the medication administration record. The resident involved had diagnoses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and both acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia, requiring regular nebulizer treatments as ordered by a physician. Interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed the expectation that nebulizer masks should be stored in a bag when not in use, and the Director of Nursing provided the facility's policy supporting this procedure. The failure to properly store the nebulizer mask constituted a lapse in maintaining safe and sanitary respiratory care for the resident.