Failure to Maintain Infection Control During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain proper infection prevention and control practices during medication administration on one of two nursing units. During a medication pass, an LPN was observed stacking medication cups for two different residents, carrying both into one resident's room, and administering medications without maintaining separation between the residents' medications. The LPN then proceeded to administer the other resident's medication without following appropriate infection control protocols. Additionally, the LPN was observed donning gloves to prepare medications for another resident, handling and scoring a Lasix tablet while wearing the same gloves, and discarding a half-tablet in a resident's bathroom trash can. The LPN then retrieved the pill cup from the trash, placed it on the medication cart, and discarded the medication into the sharps container without sanitizing the cart. These actions were not in accordance with the facility's infection control and hand hygiene policies, which were reviewed by the surveyor.