Resident Self-Administers Insulin Without Privacy or Proper Order
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with diagnoses including Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and unspecified visual disturbance was observed self-administering insulin in a public area of the facility. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had no physical impairments, was handed a syringe with insulin by a registered nurse at the nurse's station and proceeded to inject the insulin into their abdomen in the presence of staff, surveyors, and other residents. This action was observed by surveyors during an abbreviated survey. Review of the facility's policies indicated a commitment to protecting residents' rights to privacy and dignity. However, the nurse allowed the resident to self-administer insulin in a public setting without ensuring privacy. Interviews revealed that, at the time of the incident, there was no physician order permitting the resident to self-administer insulin, although there was an order for self-administration of eye drops. The order for insulin self-administration was only added after the incident.