Failure to Ensure Staff Hand Hygiene During Resident Care and Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff performed proper hand hygiene during medication administration and resident care, as observed by the surveyor during two separate incidents. In the first instance, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was observed administering medication to a resident without performing hand hygiene before or after the process. The LPN assisted the resident with taking pills and using a straw, then exited the room still holding the used medication cup and straw, again without performing hand hygiene. The LPN only performed hand hygiene after the surveyor intervened and pointed out the concern. In the second instance, a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) entered a resident's room, moved the overbed table, and handled a straw for the resident's ice water without performing hand hygiene before or after the interaction. The GNA exited the room without sanitizing their hands, and only acknowledged the concern when it was brought up by the surveyor. Both incidents were confirmed and acknowledged by the facility's Director of Nursing during the survey.