Failure to Use Protective Barriers During Eye Drop Administration
Penalty
Summary
During medication administration observations, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) failed to utilize protective barriers as required by facility policy when administering eye drops to two residents. The LPN placed eye drop bottles directly on unsanitized overbed tables without using a clean, dry surface such as a tissue or paper towel, as specified in the facility's Administration of Eye Drops or Ointments Policy. The LPN acknowledged during interviews that not using a barrier could lead to the spread of germs and cross-contamination, and confirmed that the eye drop bottles were placed on potentially contaminated surfaces during the medication pass. The residents involved had significant medical histories, including one with cerebral palsy, ocular hypertension, and keratoconus, and another with Alzheimer's disease and major depressive disorder. Both residents had active physician orders for ophthalmic medications. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the nurses were expected to use protective barriers during medication administration and agreed that the observed practice constituted an infection control issue.