Unsecured Sharps and Chemicals Found in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an environment free from accident hazards by allowing unsecured sharps and cleaning chemicals to be present in the rooms of five sampled residents. Policy review indicated that contaminated sharps should be immediately discarded into designated containers, and items posing risks to residents' health and safety should be confiscated if found in plain view. Despite these policies, observations revealed that disposable razors and cleaning chemicals were left unsecured in resident bathrooms. Registered nurses confirmed during interviews that these items should not have been left unattended or unsecured in resident rooms. The residents involved had varying degrees of cognitive impairment and physical dependency, including diagnoses such as dementia, depression, hypertension, heart failure, and respiratory conditions. Some residents required moderate to total assistance with activities of daily living. The unsecured items included disposable razors, aerosol air freshener, disinfectant spray, and surface cleaner, all found on or under bathroom sinks. The Director of Nursing confirmed that these items should not have been left unsecure and unattended in residents' rooms.