F0578

J

Failure to Ensure Valid DNRO Resulted in Unwanted CPR

Ocoee, Florida Survey Completed on 03-05-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to honor a resident’s Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) wishes by not ensuring those wishes were completely and accurately documented to promote continuity of care between providers. The resident, an older male admitted with stroke, type 2 diabetes, essential hypertension, HIV, unspecified dementia, heart failure, coronary artery disease, renal insufficiency, and non-Alzheimer’s dementia, had a physician order for DNR in the electronic medical record (EMR). His Minimum Data Set assessment showed moderate cognitive impairment, and his care plan included impaired cognitive process with an intervention to communicate with the resident and family regarding his needs. The hospital transfer documentation (3008 form) indicated the resident was DNR, and a Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) form signed by the hospital physician was present in the EMR.

On the night of admission, the LPN Supervisor reported that the resident was confused, so she and another nurse contacted the resident’s daughter by phone for consent to treat and to confirm his DNR status. They confirmed with the daughter that the resident’s wish was to be DNR and signed the facility’s Advance Directives Discussion Document, but they did not sign off on the Florida DNRO form. The Social Services Director (SSD) later reviewed the admission packet and noted that the Florida DNRO form was signed only by a physician and lacked any other signature. The SSD stated that she, the former DON, and the former ADON called the resident’s daughter to verify his wish not to have CPR, and confirmed that the two nurses on the call were RNs. However, the SSD could not explain why the nurses did not document this conversation, did not sign the Florida DNRO form until the resident or proxy could sign, and did not obtain the necessary signature by another means.

On the morning of the resident’s death, the assigned RN reported that a CNA notified her that the resident was unresponsive at approximately 5:45 AM. The RN assessed the resident, found no blood pressure, pulse, or respirations, and confirmed in the EMR that the resident’s code status was DNR. She then called EMS and, upon their arrival, provided them with a printed copy of the Florida DNRO form, which she located on goldenrod-colored paper in the front office. EMS personnel observed that the form contained only the physician’s signature and lacked the resident’s or authorized representative’s signature, and informed the RN that the form was invalid. EMS then initiated CPR and continued until they discontinued efforts and pronounced the resident deceased. The resident’s daughter later confirmed she was his health care proxy, stated she had informed facility staff at admission that he was DNR, and was later told by facility staff that EMS performed CPR because the Florida DNRO form was not signed. The facility’s own policies required complete, accurate, and timely documentation of residents’ treatment choices and advance directives, but the necessary signatures and documentation for a valid Florida DNRO were not obtained or made available, leading to the failure to honor the resident’s DNR wishes.