HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of policy and staff interviews, the nursing staff failed to supervise and evaluate care by failing to clean a glucometer after patient use per policy for 1 of 2 observations.

Findings include:

Review of hospital policy titled "Bedside Glucose Testing Program-Policy/Procedure for Nursing Staff" last revised 08/2018 revealed "PURPOSE: To define policy for Bedside Glucose Testing of patients by the nursing staff, certified nursing assistants, ED Tech and paramedics...GLUCOMETER MAINTENANCE/CLEANING AND INFECTION CONTROL...2. Meter must be disinfected after every patient use prior to exiting the patient room even if not visibly contaminated to prevent carry-over of blood and infectious agents...4. A manufacturer approved Disinfecting wipe...should be used to wipe the exterior and screen of the meter..."

Open record review revealed Patient (Pt) #10 was a 66-year old female admitted to the hospital on 06/26/2019 for Psychosis. Observation of an in-patient nursing unit on 07/02/2019 at 1125 revealed Nursing Assistant (NA) #1 performed a bedside glucose measurement test on Patient #10 using a glucometer. Observation revealed NA #1 performed hand hygiene and donned gloves. Observation revealed NA #1 scanned the patient's identification armband and requested Pt #10 verbalize her name and date of birth. Observation revealed NA #1 obtained a blood specimen and applied to the glucometer test strip and read the result. Observation revealed NA #1 removed the test strip from the glucometer, walked into the nurses' station and placed the glucometer on the desk inside the nurses' station. Observation revealed NA #1 disposed of the supplies, removed her gloves and performed hand hygiene. Observation failed to provide evidence NA #1 cleaned the glucometer after use per hospital policy.

Interview on 07/02/2019 at 1132 with NA #1 revealed she did not clean the glucometer after use. Interview further revealed NA #1 reported her usual process was to not clean the glucometer after use because she had not been trained that the glucometer had to be cleaned.

Interview on 07/02/2019 at 1135 with the Director of Emergency Services revealed "the glucometer should be cleaned after each patient use."

NC00151651