Sharps Containers Left Full and Unusable
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, functional, and sanitary environment for residents by not maintaining sharps containers in a safe manner in two of four observed sharps containers. Record review of the facility’s Sharps Container Policy showed that the facility would use sharps containers for disposal of sharp items, including lancets, and that containers were to be sealed with tape and dated when disposed of, but the policy did not address when or how often the containers should be emptied. During observation, the sharps container in the shower room on the locked dementia unit was full to the point that it could not be opened, and three uncapped used aqua-blue disposable razors were sitting on top of the container. The DON confirmed the container should have been properly disposed of and replaced with a new one and stated the razors on top of the container could pose a potential safety hazard to residents. A second observation showed the sharps container on the medication cart for the locked dementia unit was also full to the point that it could not be opened. An LPN stated the unit had two residents who required routine blood glucose monitoring and that lancets used for blood glucose checks would need to be disposed of in a sharps container, but the container on the medication cart was not usable because it could no longer be opened. The Administrator stated she expected staff to provide for resident safety in the shower room and anywhere sharps containers were located, and confirmed that leaving uncapped or unsheathed disposable razors on top of the sharps container in the shower room could pose a safety hazard for residents.
Penalty
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