Failure to Use Sterile Technique During Tracheostomy Suctioning
Penalty
Summary
Nurse #7 failed to use sterile technique while suctioning a resident's tracheostomy. During a continuous observation, the nurse provided tracheostomy care to a resident who was cognitively intact and had a history of pneumonia and respiratory failure. When the resident indicated a need for suctioning, Nurse #7 discontinued care, removed her gloves, washed her hands, applied clean gloves, and proceeded to suction the tracheostomy using a sterile suction catheter. However, she did not don sterile gloves or maintain sterile technique during the procedure. In a subsequent interview, Nurse #7 confirmed she did not use sterile gloves or sterile technique, acknowledging awareness of the proper tracheostomy suction kits but attributing her lapse to nervousness. Both the DON and the Administrator stated their expectations that sterile technique be used for tracheostomy suctioning and that facility policy be followed. The deficiency was identified for one resident reviewed for tracheostomy care.