Failure to Follow Infection Control Procedures During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a licensed nurse failed to follow infection control procedures during medication administration to a resident. During a medication pass, two white tablets of Gabapentin were observed placed directly on top of the medication cart by the nurse, who stated she was preparing to crush them for administration via the resident's PEG tube. The nurse then proceeded to crush and administer the medication to the resident. The facility's infection control policy requires methods of prevention and control to be implemented to protect residents, visitors, and personnel from pathogenic microorganisms and infectious diseases. The observed practice of placing medication directly on the medication cart surface did not align with these infection control procedures.