Failure to Properly Store Oxygen Delivery Equipment for Residents Requiring Respiratory Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for two residents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by not ensuring that their oxygen delivery equipment was properly stored when not in use. For one resident, the nasal cannula was observed hanging unbagged on the bedrail after use, despite the resident only requiring oxygen at night and not having used it since early morning. The responsible LVN confirmed that the nasal cannula should have been stored in a bag for infection control, as per facility practice and policy. For the second resident, the nasal cannula was found unbagged on top of the bed while the resident was not present in the room. The ADON acknowledged that the nasal cannula should have been bagged when not in use to prevent infection, and that nursing staff were responsible for ensuring this practice. Additionally, the care plan for this resident did not include an intervention for oxygen use, despite a physician's order for oxygen therapy. The facility's policy required that cannulas be placed in a plastic bag and labeled if oxygen was to be administered on a PRN basis.