Improper Administration of Prescription Omega-3 Capsule
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a nurse administered a prescription Omega-3 fatty acid capsule to a resident by cutting open the capsule and mixing its contents with applesauce, rather than administering it whole as required by professional standards and the medication's prescribing information. Observation revealed that some of the medication remained in the capsule shell after this process. The physician's order specified that the capsule should be given by mouth once daily, and drug information indicated that the capsule should not be broken, crushed, dissolved, or chewed. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the medication should not have been opened and that an alternative form should have been provided if the resident was unable to swallow the capsule whole.