Uncertified LPN Administered IV Antibiotic
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an LPN who administered an IV antibiotic to a resident had the required IV training/certification. The resident had multiple diagnoses, including urinary tract infection, sepsis, difficulty walking, unspecified skin changes, chronic congestive heart failure, kidney failure, unspecified organism, vascular dementia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus with circulatory complications, and had a physician’s order for Vancomycin 750 mg IV every 18 hours over several days in February 2026. The resident’s EMR and MAR showed that the ordered Vancomycin IV piggyback was administered, and the MAR for one of those days contained the initials of an LPN who later stated she was not certified to give IV antibiotics, although she acknowledged she had administered some to this resident about a month prior and planned to obtain training in the future. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that LPNs at the facility are required to have specific certification to infuse IV antibiotics, verified that the initials on the MAR identify the person who administered the medication, and stated that this LPN’s name did not appear on the facility’s list of LPNs certified to administer IV medications. Thus, the IV Vancomycin was infused by an LPN who lacked the required IV certification, contrary to facility expectations and practice as described by nursing leadership.
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