Failure to Use PPE for Resident on Contact Precautions
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a nurse failed to follow the facility's infection prevention and control policies regarding contact precautions. Specifically, Nurse #1 entered the room of a resident who was under contact isolation precautions for conjunctivitis and administered medications via gastrostomy tube without wearing the required personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and a gown. The facility's policy and posted signage clearly indicated that all healthcare personnel must wear gloves and a gown when entering rooms of residents on contact precautions. PPE supplies were available outside the resident's room, and appropriate signage was posted. During interviews, Nurse #1 stated she was unaware that the resident was on contact precautions and acknowledged she should have worn PPE. The unit manager and staff development coordinator confirmed that the nurse should have used PPE as per facility policy and that ongoing in-services on infection control and transmission-based precautions were provided. The resident involved had a physician's order for contact isolation due to conjunctivitis, requiring these additional precautions.