Improper Disinfection of Shared Glucometer by LVN
Penalty
Summary
A Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) failed to properly disinfect a shared glucometer during medication administration. The LVN was observed wiping the glucometer with a Sani cloth disposable wipe but did not adhere to the manufacturer's specified contact time of two minutes. Instead, the LVN allowed the glucometer to air dry while still wet, but not for the required duration. This process was performed before and after checking a resident's blood sugar, and the LVN acknowledged not following the manufacturer's instructions regarding contact time during an interview. Interviews with the Director for Staff Development (DSD) and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that staff are expected to sanitize the glucometer before and after each use, following the manufacturer's instructions for a two-minute contact time. A review of the facility's policy and the manufacturer's instructions both indicated that all patient care equipment should be disinfected between uses and that surfaces must remain wet for two minutes to ensure proper disinfection. The failure to follow these procedures was directly observed and confirmed through staff interviews and policy review.