Failure to Label IV Site per Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate treatment and care for a peripherally inserted catheter in accordance with professional standards of practice for one resident. Facility policy requires that all registered nurses and LPNs who complete the IV therapy program are responsible for inspecting IV sites at least every shift, maintaining a clean, dry, and intact dressing over the insertion site, and documenting the date and time of insertion. During a review of clinical documentation, it was found that a resident with a history of hernia repair, muscular deconditioning, and obesity had a 22-gauge peripheral catheter inserted in the left wrist. On observation, the resident was seen with a peripheral IV access site on the left wrist, but the dressing was not labeled with the date or time of insertion. During an interview, an LPN confirmed that the IV access site dressing did not contain the required date or time of insertion. This failure to label the IV site as required by facility policy and professional standards constituted a deficiency in the administration and monitoring of IV therapy for the resident.