Failure to Administer Medications Within Prescribed Time Frames
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to administer medications in accordance with professional standards, resulting in significant medication errors for one resident. The errors were identified through observation, record review, and interview. Specifically, the resident's medications were not given as prescribed by the physician, violating the five rights of medication administration: right person, right medication, right route, right dosage, and right time. On a specific date, multiple medications for the resident were administered outside the required 1-hour time frame. These included garlic orals, hydralazine HCL, zinc, magnesium oxide, naproxen, and forastor capsules, all of which were given at times significantly later or earlier than scheduled. The findings were discussed with the Director of Nursing, who did not provide a response at the time of the interview.