Failure to complete RN assessment and monitor significant weight gain
Summary
The facility did not ensure that residents received treatment and care in accordance with professional standards of practice for two sampled residents. For one resident with multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, generalized weakness, and dependence on staff for mobility, a wheelchair transport incident occurred when the resident’s foot came off the footrest and was struck by the wheelchair wheel or hit the ground during movement. The resident reported pain afterward, and nursing notes documented ongoing pain with no swelling or redness initially, later noting tenderness and yellowish discoloration. The record did not show that an RN completed an assessment after the incident, and an RN interviewed by surveyors stated she had no knowledge of the event and had not assessed the resident’s foot. For the same resident, the incident was first documented by an LPN, who noted the resident’s foot had come off the footrest and that the resident had pain. The LPN stated she checked the foot and saw no redness or swelling, but also stated she did not notify the physician at the time. Another LPN later documented continued pain and then contacted the physician after physical therapy reported increased pain and recommended an x-ray. Surveyor interviews with the PT, RN, and DON confirmed that the RN assessment was not completed at the time of the incident and that the DON was not notified until several days later. A second resident with chronic systolic CHF had a recorded weight increase from 178 pounds to 201 pounds within one week, with subsequent weights remaining around 200 pounds. The facility did not document an RN assessment in response to the significant weight gain, and the chart lacked evidence of monitoring for CHF exacerbation such as edema checks or lung sound assessments. The resident’s medical record also did not show timely notification of the MD or RD regarding the weight gain. The RD stated she would expect staff to alert her and investigate significant weight changes, especially with CHF, and the DON stated the facility should notify the MD and RD of significant weight changes and complete RN assessments, but acknowledged that this did not occur.
Penalty
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