Unlicensed Staff Administered Medication Patch
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) applied a lidocaine pain relief patch to a resident, despite facility policy and state regulations requiring that only licensed personnel administer medications. The incident was discovered after the resident's family reported seeing a video of the CNA applying the patch. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, idiopathic epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, and was assessed as having severe cognitive impairment. The medication administration record showed an active order for the lidocaine patch. Interviews with facility leadership confirmed that the CNA was not authorized to administer medications and that the facility's policy restricts medication administration to licensed staff, such as nurses and medication aides. The CNA admitted to applying the patch and stated she was later informed that this was outside her scope of practice. The incident was corroborated by video evidence and staff interviews. The facility's policy on medication administration emphasizes adherence to legal requirements and proper orientation for staff involved in medication distribution.