Failure to Monitor and Communicate Urinary Changes and Pain
Summary
Failure to provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident preferences, and goals occurred for a resident with hydronephrosis, kidney stones, kidney disease, severe cognitive impairment, and hospice services for cerebrovascular disease. The resident had an RC and a hospice care plan that allowed the hospice nurse or facility nurse to obtain a dipstick urine test for symptom management and allowed the hospice RN to flush the RC as needed. The physician also had an order dated 12/23/2025 for Acetic Acid irrigation three times a day as needed for RC occlusion or blockage, but this order had not been used since it was written. The resident’s RR reported new burning pain with urination and new reddish urine to nursing staff, and staff observed thick white chunky sediment in the RC tubing with urine above the sediment and no urine below it. The resident was observed lying in bed with nonverbal signs of pain, including grasping the bed rail tightly, wincing, and moaning. Nursing progress notes from 01/25/2026 through 01/27/2026 did not document the RR’s reports, ongoing monitoring of the urine changes and discomfort, the sediment and reddish/yellow urine, or notification to hospice services. The hospice nurse visit note also did not reflect assessment or knowledge of the urine symptoms, catheter sediment, reddish/yellow urine, or increased discomfort. Interviews showed staff did not follow the usual communication process for changes in condition. Staff D stated the RR reported pain and burning with urination and that they saw particles in the RC tubing, but staff were unsure about notifying hospice for a change in condition and did not know about the Acetic Acid irrigation order. Staff C stated they were informed of urine issues but did not assess the resident or communicate to hospice, initiate alert charting, or use the AD pain tool despite the resident’s communication issues and language barrier. The DON and Administrator stated they expected nursing staff to communicate changes in condition to hospice and to provide ongoing monitoring and charting, but that did not occur in this instance.
Penalty
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