Failure to Label Enteral Feeding Bag per Policy and Physician Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident receiving enteral nutrition via a feeding tube was provided with appropriate treatment and services to prevent complications. Specifically, the enteral feeding bag in use for a resident with a gastrostomy was not labeled with the required date, time, or nurse initials, as observed during a survey. This omission was in direct violation of both physician orders and the facility's own policy, which require that the formula container, syringe, and administration set be labeled with the resident's name, date, time, and nurse's initials at the start of infusion. Record review showed that the resident was receiving continuous enteral nutrition due to dysphagia, with orders specifying the use of a closed system container and the need to change and label the feeding administration set with each new bottle. During interviews, both the LPN and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the labeling had not been completed as required. The facility administrator also acknowledged that staff were expected to follow physician orders and facility policy regarding enteral feedings, but this was not done in this instance.