Failure to Monitor and Assess Fluid Intake for Ordered Restriction
Summary
The facility failed to monitor and assess a resident’s fluid intake to ensure a physician-ordered 1,200 mL/24-hour fluid restriction was implemented as prescribed. The resident had diagnoses including hypokalemia, hypo-osmolality, and hyponatremia, and the annual MDS identified mild cognitive impairment, impaired mobility, and use of a walker and wheelchair. The resident’s care plans identified a potential for fluid volume deficit and later directed staff to monitor the fluid restriction per doctor order, encourage fluid intake per order, and report changes in ability. The nutrition care plan also identified a 1,200 mL/24-hour fluid restriction with extra fluids offered between meals, during activities, in common areas, and in the room. The resident’s physician visit note identified that the resident was on a prescribed fluid restriction and the plan was to continue monitoring hydration status with a 1,200 mL/day restriction. Paper Daily Fluid Intake Tracker records from nursing and dietary were maintained separately, with handwritten instructions dividing fluids between meals, supplements, and water pitcher amounts. However, neither form identified a calculated daily fluid total or documented the total amount consumed each day from both nursing and dietary, and there was no indication the resident’s fluid intake was evaluated or assessed to ensure the 1,200 mL goal was met. On multiple reviewed dates, the combined nursing and dietary totals exceeded the ordered restriction, including totals of 1,844 mL, 1,860 mL, 1,590 mL, and 1,800 mL. Laboratory results in June showed elevated BUN values, low GFR values, low chloride on some dates, and sodium values of 135 on two occasions. During observation, the resident had a 16 oz water pitcher and 5 oz cups in the room, and staff observed that the pitcher appeared to contain more than the daily allotment. Staff interviews showed uncertainty about whether the resident obtained additional fluids from the water fountain or bathroom faucet. The resident stated staff did not give much water and that if extra water was requested, staff sometimes did not return. Nursing and dietary staff stated that dietary documented fluid intake unless the resident was on a fluid restriction, that nursing and dietary each recorded portions of the intake separately, and that no one was reviewing the nursing and dietary records together to determine the resident’s total daily intake or whether the resident met or exceeded the prescribed restriction.
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