Failure to Provide Ordered Enteral Nutrition and Accurately Document Tube Feeding Intake
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that residents who were unable to maintain adequate nutrition independently received enteral nutrition as ordered and that accurate records of daily enteral intake were maintained. Three nonverbal, fully dependent residents with gastrostomy tubes and significant medical conditions, including anoxic brain damage, respiratory failure, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, tracheostomy status, and pressure ulcers, were affected. For one resident, the spouse reported that the feeding tube pump was off when she arrived around 6:00 PM, despite orders for continuous tube feeding from 2:00 PM to 11:00 AM. Nursing documentation and an incident narrative confirmed that the feeding tube had been turned off for several hours, resulting in missed scheduled tube feeding, and that the issue was brought to staff attention by the spouse. The telehealth physician note further documented that the spouse was upset that feeds were not running between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM and that feeds were only started once the notification was made. The same resident’s family member reported that this problem had occurred multiple times over a period of weeks, including around Thanksgiving and Christmas, stating that the resident had not been fed for 6 to 8 hours on separate occasions. The family member also reported another recent visit when the pump was beeping and displayed “INACTIVE,” and the nurse present, identified as agency staff, could not explain why the feeding was not running. A CNA stated that when he goes in to provide care, the feeding is often paused and the nurse is notified to turn it back on. At the time of surveyor observation, the resident’s feeding pump was running at the ordered rate of 50 mL/hr with a labeled start time of 6:00 AM, but the amount of formula remaining in the container and the total volume displayed on the pump did not match what should have infused based on the documented start time and rate. For the second resident, who was also nonverbal and fully dependent with diagnoses including respiratory failure, hemiplegia, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, anoxic brain damage, tracheostomy status, and gastrostomy status, the physician’s order specified Jevity 1.5 at 80 mL/hr continuous for 20 hours, on at 2:00 PM and off at 10:00 AM or until 1600 mL was infused, with water flushes every 6 hours. During surveyor observation, the feeding pump was running at 80 mL/hr, but the feeding container lacked a start time label, and approximately 900 mL remained in a 1000 mL container when, based on the ordered rate and start time, only about 100 mL should have remained. The total fed volume on the pump (209 mL) also did not correspond to the actual volume in the container, and the absence of a start time made it unclear when the feeding had been started or whether it had been running continuously as ordered. For the third resident, who was nonverbal, fully dependent, and had diagnoses including anoxic brain damage, chronic respiratory failure, tracheostomy status, compression of the brain, dependence on supplemental oxygen, and gastrostomy status, the physician’s order specified Vital 1.5 at 70 mL/hr continuous for 21 hours, on at 2:00 PM and off at 11:00 AM, with a total daily volume of 1470 mL and water flushes every 6 hours. Surveyors observed the feeding pump running at 70 mL/hr with a labeled start time of 3:00 AM, and approximately 600 mL remaining in a 900 mL container. Based on the ordered rate and the labeled start time, the container should have contained about 480 mL, but the observed volume did not match this calculation. The total fed volume displayed on the pump was 2836 mL, which exceeded the ordered daily volume of 1470 mL and did not correspond to the labeled start time. The DON acknowledged that staff may not have reset the pump when hanging a new bottle and confirmed that nurses should reset the machine at that time. Across all three residents, review of the medical records showed no documentation of when tube feedings were interrupted, stopped, or restarted, and there was no accurate record of the total daily volume of tube feeding delivered. The DON stated that there was no flow sheet to track bottle changes and that documentation was limited to the MAR, which for one resident showed tube feedings as administered but without times for when feedings were started or total volume received. The facility’s own tube feeding guideline required that the pump be cleared at the end of each shift and that tube feeding delivered be documented, but the observed discrepancies between ordered rates, labeled start times, pump volumes, and actual formula remaining, along with missing documentation of interruptions and total intake, demonstrate that these procedures were not followed for the residents reviewed.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Incorrect G-tube Flush Volume During Enteral Feeding: A resident with severe cognitive impairment, aphasia, stroke, hemiplegia, and a feeding tube was observed receiving enteral feeding when an RN flushed the G-tube with 30 ml of water before and after the feeding instead of the ordered 60 ml. The RN stated he read the order wrong, and the DON and ADON confirmed the correct flush amount should have been followed.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment, multiple comorbidities, and NPO status received nutrition and hydration via a gastrojejunal tube with orders for continuous tube feeding, 30 mL water flushes before and after medications via the gastric port, 120 mL free water flushes six times daily, and 30 mL jejunal port flushes every four hours. During observed care, an LPN administered medications and 30 mL water flushes through the gastric port but did not provide the ordered 120 mL free water flush or the 30 mL jejunal port flush, and no additional flushes were given over several hours. Later, another LPN initially attempted to give medications through the jejunal port before being redirected, and documentation on the MAR/TAR showed inconsistent flush volumes of 30–60 mL instead of the ordered 120 mL free water flushes, reflecting failure to consistently implement the prescribed hydration and port-specific flushing regimen.
A resident receiving enteral tube feeding was observed lying with the HOB elevated only 15 degrees while Glucerna was infusing at 60 ml/hr. An LVN started the feeding and was unsure of the correct HOB position, and an RN stated the HOB was not elevated properly to prevent aspiration. Records showed an order to keep the HOB elevated 30-45 degrees or as tolerated and a care plan noting tube feeding related to dysphagia.
GT site care and feeding precautions were not followed for two residents with GTs. One resident with dementia and severe cognitive impairment had a GT dressing left unchanged despite orders for daily cleansing and dressing changes, and drainage was observed at the site. Another resident was observed lying flat in a supine position while receiving continuous GT feeding, even though the CP and OSR required HOB elevation during tube feeding; RN and DON confirmed the ordered positioning was not being followed.
Expired Tube Feeding Formula Left Connected to a Resident: A resident with anoxic brain damage, dysphagia, and a gastrostomy tube was observed with an enteral feeding pump off but still connected and a tube feeding bag that staff said had exceeded the 24-hour limit after opening. Staff confirmed the formula was no longer safe after 24 hours, and the facility policy required accurate labeling and dating of each feeding bag or formula container.
GT Not Flushed Before Med Pass: An LPN was observed preparing to give crushed meds through a resident’s GT without first flushing the tube with water. The surveyor stopped the med pass before any meds were given, and both the LPN and DON confirmed the GT had not been flushed as required by the resident’s order and facility policy.
Incorrect G-tube Flush Volume During Enteral Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure appropriate treatment and services for a resident who was fed by enteral means. Resident #11, a [AGE]-year-old female with diagnoses including aphasia, stroke, hemiplegia, and cerebral infarction, had a BIMS score of 0 and was on a feeding tube due to impaired swallowing. Her care plan directed staff to follow the current feeding orders, and the order summary included instructions to flush the enteral tube with 60 ml of water before and after feedings, along with separate flush instructions for medication administration. During observation of a feeding, RN D checked g-tube placement, poured 30 ml of water into the syringe and let it flow by gravity, then poured formula into the syringe and flushed with 30 ml of water after the feeding. During interview, RN D stated he had read the flush order wrong and said the order was 60 ml. The DON stated that if the order was 60 ml, it should have been followed, and ADON J stated the correct flush before and after feedings should be 60 ml. The facility policy stated that enteral formulas and medications are to be administered safely and effectively based on nursing assessment and physician consultation.
Failure to Provide Ordered Hydration and Correct Tube Flushes for Enteral Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to implement ordered hydration interventions and tube flushes for a resident receiving enteral nutrition via a gastrojejunal tube. The resident had moderate cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including stroke with hemiplegia, heart failure, kidney disease, diabetes, aphasia, malnutrition, and respiratory failure, and was NPO with tube feeding providing more than half of total caloric intake and at least 501 cc/day of fluid. The care plan and physician orders specified continuous Isosource 1.5 at 55 mL/hr, 30 mL water flushes before and after medications via the gastric port, additional free water flushes of 120 mL six times per day to meet hydration needs, and 30 mL water flushes through the jejunal port every four hours to prevent clogging. On one observed morning medication pass, an LPN paused the jejunal tube feeding, checked residual, flushed 30 cc of water into the gastric port, administered crushed medications via the gastric port, and flushed with another 30 cc of water, then restarted the feeding through the jejunal port. During this episode of care, the LPN did not provide the ordered 120 cc free water flush or the ordered 30 cc jejunal port flush, and no additional flushes were administered by any staff from 8:40 a.m. to 11:53 a.m. The medication and treatment administration record showed an order for a 60 cc flush with the day shift medication administration, a 120 cc flush, and a 30 cc jejunal port flush, but the LPN stated she believed the water used before and after medications and mixed with the medications counted toward the 120 cc flush and acknowledged she had not seen the part of the order requiring a 30 cc flush to the jejunal port every four hours. Later that day, another LPN flushed both the jejunal and gastric ports with 30 cc of water, then initially attempted to administer medications into the jejunal port until redirected by another LPN to use the gastric port, after which the gastric port was flushed with 30 cc of water and then 120 cc of water. Staff reviewed the orders and noted that the 120 cc flush six times per day did not specify which port to use, and documentation on the medication and treatment administration record showed variable flush amounts of 30 and 60 cc rather than the ordered 120 cc free water flushes. The registered dietician and nursing staff acknowledged that documentation reflected inconsistent flush volumes and that residents with tube feedings, such as this resident, were at increased risk of dehydration, and the DON stated that free water flushes were expected to be given as separate amounts from medication flushes and that medications and flushes were to be administered through the correct ports.
Improper Head-of-Bed Positioning During Tube Feeding
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that Resident 6’s head of bed was elevated to prevent aspiration while receiving enteral tube feeding. During an observation, Resident 6 was lying in bed with the head of bed elevated at a 15-degree angle while an LVN connected the resident to the enteral feeding pump and set it to deliver Glucerna at 60 ml per hour. The LVN then left the room after starting the feeding, and during a concurrent interview stated he was not sure how elevated the head of bed was and believed it should have been elevated to 90 degrees during enteral feeding. During a concurrent interview, an RN observed Resident 6 in the same position with the head of bed still at a 15-degree angle and stated it was not elevated properly to prevent aspiration, noting it was below 30 degrees and should have been elevated to 50 degrees during enteral feedings. Record review showed an active physician order to keep the head of bed elevated 30-45 degrees or as tolerated to prevent aspiration, and the care plan identified that the resident required tube feeding related to dysphagia. The facility did not provide the requested policy and procedure for enteral tube feedings.
GT Site Care and Feeding Position Not Provided as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
Resident 3 had diagnoses including encounter for attention to a GT and dementia, with severely impaired cognition and dependence on staff for multiple activities of daily living. The physician’s order and care plan required GT site care with normal saline, pat dry, and a dry dressing every day shift, and the care plan also directed local GT site care as ordered and monitoring for signs and symptoms of infection. During observation, Resident 3 was found with a GT site dressing dated 4/19/2026 and light brown drainage at the site. RN 1 stated the dressing had not been changed the prior day, and the Treatment Nurse stated the dressing was forgotten and needed to be cleaned and changed daily as ordered to prevent infection. The DON stated licensed nurses were responsible for changing the GT site dressing daily as ordered. Resident 6 had diagnoses including encounter for attention to a GT, obstructive and reflux uropathy, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the care plan required head of bed elevation of at least 30 to 45 degrees during and after tube feeding. The order summary also directed staff to elevate the head of bed a minimum of 30 degrees at all times during administration of feedings or medications. During observation, Resident 6 was asleep, lying flat in bed in a supine position while connected to ongoing GT feeding at 50 ml/hr. RN 1 stated the resident should have had the head of bed elevated 30 to 45 degrees during feeding to prevent aspiration, and the DON stated the head of bed should have been elevated at least 30 degrees while on GT feeding.
Expired Tube Feeding Formula Left Connected to Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary care and services for one of two sampled residents receiving enteral feeding. Resident 3 had diagnoses including anoxic brain damage, dysphagia, gastrostomy, and cerebral aneurysm, and the admission history and physical indicated the resident did not have the capacity to understand and make decisions. The order summary showed Isosource 1.5 was ordered at 75 ml per hour for 10 hours via gastrostomy tube, with the feeding to start at 8:00 p.m. and stop at 6:00 a.m. During observation, Resident 3 was lying in bed with an enteral feeding pump next to the bed, and the tube feeding bag was labeled and dated at 9:00 p.m. while the pump was off but still connected to the resident. During interview and record review, staff stated the tube feeding formula was only good for 24 hours once the bag was opened and spiked, and that the bag observed was already expired. Staff also stated the bag should have been discarded and that charge nurses each shift should check the tube feeding bag for expiration. The facility policy required staff caring for residents with enteral feedings to ensure accurate labeling and dating of each feeding bag or formula container, with an expiration date/time per manufacturer or facility protocol.
GT Not Flushed Before Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to flush a gastrostomy tube with water before administering crushed medications to one resident, Resident 87, during an observed medication pass. During the observation on 4/21/2026 at 9:45 a.m., LVN 4 was seen preparing to give crushed medication through the resident’s GT without first flushing the tube with water. The surveyor stopped the LVN before any medication was administered and asked to discuss the GT technique. In the concurrent interview, LVN 4 stated that the GT had not been flushed before medication administration. During a later interview on 4/21/2026 at 3:48 p.m., the DON confirmed that LVN 4 failed to flush Resident 87’s GT with water before medication administration. The DON stated that this technique was important to ensure the GT was not clogged and that the resident did not aspirate or need GT replacement. Resident 87’s record showed an admission date of 1/22/2018 and a re-admission on [DATE], with a diagnosis including encounter for attention to gastrostomy. The order summary indicated 30 cc of fluids may be given via GT before and after medication administration, and the facility policy stated the enteral feeding tube should be flushed with at least 30 cc of water before and after medications are administered.
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