Unlicensed Staff Administered Medications
Penalty
Summary
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), who was also a student in a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program but not yet licensed, administered medications to several residents. The CNA stated that on one occasion, an LPN asked for assistance in handing out medications to residents who were waiting in the hallway. The CNA did not prepare the medications but distributed them to four or five residents as directed by the LPN, following instructions on whether to give the medications whole or in applesauce. The CNA could not recall the specific residents involved or the exact date of the incident, which occurred several months prior to the interview. Record review confirmed that the CNA was only eligible to work in that capacity and that the facility's job description for CNAs did not include medication administration. The facility's policy specified that only the Director of Nursing, licensed nursing personnel, and qualified medication aides are responsible for administering medications. The Director of Nursing confirmed that CNAs are not permitted to administer medications and was unaware that this incident had occurred. The facility had 95 residents at the time of the survey.