Improper Disposal of PPE Gown Outside Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) was observed exiting the room of two residents while still wearing a used PPE gown, which was then removed and discarded in a linen hamper located in the hallway outside the residents' room. According to interviews with the LVN, the Infection Prevention Nurse (IPN), and the Interim Director of Nursing (IDON), the proper procedure is to remove and dispose of used PPE inside the resident's room to prevent cross contamination and the spread of infections. The facility's policy and procedure on PPE gowns, revised in December 2023, also specifies that soiled gowns must be removed and discarded in appropriate receptacles located in the room or work area before leaving. This incident demonstrates a failure to follow established infection prevention and control protocols, as staff did not dispose of used PPE in the designated area within the resident's room. The deviation from policy was confirmed through direct observation, staff interviews, and review of facility procedures, all of which indicated that disposing of PPE in the hallway constitutes a break in infection control practices.