Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices and Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to follow established infection control practices during the care of a resident requiring enhanced barrier precautions (EBP). Specifically, a Certified Nursing Assistant provided personal care to a resident with a feeding tube, removed soiled gloves, did not perform hand hygiene, left the room to obtain new gloves, and returned to the resident's room without performing hand hygiene before donning clean gloves. This action was observed during the provision of incontinence care. Additionally, a Registered Nurse prepared and administered feeding and medications through the resident's feeding tube without donning a gown, as required by the EBP signage and facility policy. The nurse acknowledged forgetting to wear the gown, which was expected for all staff when working with the resident's feeding tube. The Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to perform hand hygiene before and after resident care and to follow EBP signage, including gowning up when directed.