Failure to Follow Professional Standards for Physician Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow professional standards of practice in obtaining physician orders for one resident. Specifically, a Unit Manager provided a verbal order for a urinalysis with culture and sensitivity (UA/CS) to a Registered Nurse supervisor, despite not being a physician. The facility's policy requires that telephone or verbal orders must be recorded in the clinical record by the nurse receiving the order and must be provided by a physician. The resident involved had diagnoses of high blood pressure, depression, and heart failure, and was experiencing increased confusion, prompting the order for the UA/CS. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the Unit Manager was not authorized to give such orders, resulting in a failure to adhere to professional standards of practice.