Unsecured Sharps Found in Resident Bathroom on Secured Unit
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the environment was free from accident hazards when four disposable razors were found unsecured on top of the paper towel dispenser in a resident's bathroom on the secured unit. This was observed during two separate times on the same day. The facility's policy requires that contaminated sharps be discarded immediately into designated, closable, and puncture-resistant containers, which was not followed in this instance. The resident involved had diagnoses including dementia, anxiety, heart failure, and depression, and was assessed as severely cognitively impaired with a BIMS score of 6. The resident required extensive assistance with activities of daily living and resided on a secured unit with ten wandering residents. Staff interviews confirmed the presence of the razors, and the Director of Nursing acknowledged that razors should not be left out in the open in the secure unit.