Nebulizer Mask Not Stored Sanitarily After Use
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to ensure that a resident's nebulizer mask was stored in a sanitary manner, as required by facility policy and physician orders. The resident, who had diagnoses including hypertension, dementia, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and emphysema with COPD, required assistance with most activities of daily living and had a care plan specifying that her nebulizer should be rinsed after each use and kept dry. Despite these instructions, observations showed the nebulizer was left on the bedside table without a clean barrier or sanitary container. Interviews with facility staff, including a Certified Medication Aide, a Licensed Nurse, and an Administrative Nurse, confirmed that respiratory equipment should be cleaned, air dried, and stored in a labeled plastic bag when not in use. The facility's own policy also directed staff to keep delivery devices covered in a plastic bag. However, these procedures were not followed for the resident in question, resulting in a failure to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care.