Failure to Administer Medications Timely as Ordered by Physician
Penalty
Summary
Nursing staff failed to administer medications in accordance with physician orders and facility policy for two of three sampled residents. The facility's policy requires medications to be administered within one hour of the prescribed time unless otherwise specified, and any deviations must be documented on the Medication Administration Record (MAR/eMAR) with the reason noted. For one resident, multiple medications including mirtazapine, melatonin, carvedilol, timoptic ophthalmic solution, and rosuvastatin were scheduled for administration at specific times but were instead given significantly late on several occasions, as confirmed by both the Assistant Director of Nursing and an LPN. Another resident also experienced delays in the administration of scheduled medications, including clonidine, senna, and diclofenac sodium, with doses given more than an hour past the scheduled times. Staff interviews confirmed that these medications were not administered timely as ordered by the physician. The facility's failure to ensure timely medication administration as per physician orders and policy was substantiated through record reviews and staff interviews.