Failure to Administer Enteral Feeding at Ordered Rate
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when nursing staff failed to administer enteral feedings as ordered for Resident #184, who had a history of stroke, right-sided hemiplegia, dysphagia, and cognitive communication deficit. The physician's order specified that enteral feedings should be administered every shift at a rate of 60 mL per hour for 20 hours via pump. However, observation revealed that the feeding was running at 50 mL per hour instead of the ordered rate. The registered nurse had documented in the Medication Administration Record that the feeding was given as ordered, but direct observation and subsequent verification with the nurse confirmed the rate was incorrect. Facility policy required nursing staff to verify the practitioner's order, including the volume and rate to be infused, when administering enteral feedings.