Oxygen Therapy Not Administered Per Physician Order
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with a diagnosis of asthma was not administered oxygen therapy according to the physician's order. The facility's policy requires that oxygen be administered by licensed staff and at the flow rate specified by the physician. The resident had a physician's order for oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula as needed for shortness of breath. However, during an observation in the dining area, the resident was found receiving oxygen at 3 liters per minute. The unit manager confirmed that the oxygen was set at 3 liters per minute and subsequently adjusted it to the ordered 2 liters per minute. The clinical record, facility policy, and staff interviews all indicated that the oxygen should have been administered at the prescribed rate, but this was not followed at the time of observation.