Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when an LVN was observed administering medications to a resident without following proper infection control procedures. During medication administration, the LVN poured several oral tablets from bulk stock bottles into her bare hand, selected the required dose, and returned the unused tablets back into the original bottles. This occurred with both cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) and iron tablets. The LVN acknowledged during the observation that this was not the correct procedure and that she should not have touched the medications with her bare hands or returned them to the bottle after contact. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the LVN should have used the inside of the bottle lid to separate the tablets and not her hand, as touching and returning medications could introduce bacteria. Review of the facility's medication administration policy indicated that staff are instructed not to touch oral medications with their hands. The LVN's competency checklist showed she had previously met the required standards for medication administration and infection control practices.