Failure to Ensure Privacy During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to ensure privacy and confidentiality for a resident during medication administration via gastric tube. During observation, a registered nurse left the medication cart unattended with the resident's medical information visible and unsecured on the computer. The nurse then entered the resident's room, left the door open to the hallway, and did not pull the privacy curtain. While administering medications through the resident's gastric tube, the nurse exposed the resident's abdomen and GT site without providing privacy. Interviews with the nurse and the Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to protect resident health information and provide privacy during care by closing doors or pulling privacy curtains. Both staff members acknowledged the importance of maintaining resident privacy and confidentiality, as outlined in facility policies and resident rights documentation. The incident was found to be inconsistent with facility policies regarding HIPAA compliance and resident dignity.