Failure to Provide Timely Pain Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), major depressive disorder, and osteoarthritis was admitted with a care plan identifying a risk for pain, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems related to unrelieved pain. The care plan included interventions such as administering medication as ordered. The resident was prescribed meloxicam for osteoarthritis pain, scheduled to be administered daily at 8:00 AM. On one occasion, the medication was administered at 9:46 AM, one hour and 45 minutes after the scheduled time, as confirmed by the medication administration record and interviews with facility staff. There was no documentation explaining the delay in administration. A family member reported that the late administration of the pain medication caused the resident distress and unmanaged pain. The Assistant Director of Nurses confirmed that medications are required to be administered within one hour before or after the scheduled time and that any delays should be communicated to the physician. The facility's policy also states that medications must be administered in a safe and timely manner, within one hour of the prescribed time, and based on resident need rather than staff convenience.