Significant Medication Error and Delayed Response After Wrong Medications Given
Summary
The deficiency involves a failure to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors when an agency LPN did not follow proper medication administration procedures. The LPN prepared and administered evening/bedtime medications for two roommates at the same time, in a dark room, by popping both residents’ pills into separate cups labeled with their names. The LPN later admitted that she prepared both residents’ medications together and that the room was dark when she administered the medications. One resident, who was not ordered any benzodiazepines or opioid pain medications, was instead given medications that were ordered for his roommate, including Xanax 2 mg PO, Percocet (Oxycodone/Acetaminophen) 10–325 mg PO, and Gabapentin 800 mg PO. The resident who received the wrong medications had a history that included dementia with Lewy Bodies, neurocognitive disorder, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, CHF, hypertension, cirrhosis, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and insomnia. His active orders included medications such as Abilify, Aspirin, Atorvastatin, Vitamin D, Plavix, Aricept, Fluoxetine, Lactulose, Magnesium Oxide, Melatonin, Remeron, Potassium Chloride, Sennosides, and Tamsulosin, with PRN orders for Acetaminophen, artificial tears, Mucinex, and Zofran. He had no orders for benzodiazepines or opioids. On the evening in question, the LPN documented administering his scheduled evening/bedtime medications around 8:44 P.M. and noted that he complained of being tired after a room change earlier that day. Shortly thereafter, his roommate complained to a CNA that his pain medications did not feel like they had worked, stating he could usually tell within 10 minutes when they took effect, suggesting concern that he had not received his usual medications. The facility also failed to timely identify and correlate the reported medication mix-up with the resident’s subsequent change in condition. Around 8:53 P.M., the LPN found the resident lethargic but responsive to touch and able to follow simple commands, with vital signs within acceptable ranges. The resident’s wife reported that he had not awakened during her visit. Despite the roommate’s report that he believed the medications had been mixed up and the LPN’s own acknowledgment that both residents’ medications had been prepared together, the LPN did not notify a physician of a possible medication error or seek medical guidance at that time. Throughout the night, the resident remained lethargic, and staff noted that something seemed “off,” but no provider was contacted until approximately 1:15 A.M., when the resident was found unresponsive, hypotensive, and bradycardic. EMS was then called, and the resident was transferred to the hospital with an altered mental status and unresponsiveness. Hospital evaluation, including a urine drug screen, showed the presence of benzodiazepines and oxycodone, which matched medications ordered for the roommate and not for the resident, confirming that a significant medication error had occurred and contributed to the resident’s serious deterioration in condition. Additional documentation from EMS and the hospital further described the resident’s condition following the error. EMS records indicated that the resident was unresponsive with pinpoint pupils, hypotension, bradycardia, and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of seven, and he received multiple doses of Narcan and Atropine en route. The ED provider note documented hypotension, bradycardia, poor responsiveness, and initial miotic pupils with partial response to Narcan, and the clinical impression included acute encephalopathy and unresponsiveness. The hospital history and physical described acute hypoxic respiratory failure and multifocal pneumonia, with progressive respiratory decline requiring endotracheal intubation and ICU admission. These findings, together with the positive urine drug screen for benzodiazepines and oxycodone in a resident without orders for those medications, were included in the facility’s investigation file as evidence of the significant medication error and its impact on the resident’s condition. The facility’s internal investigation gathered statements from the involved LPN, another LPN who assessed the resident, and a CNA. The agency LPN confirmed that she had prepared both roommates’ medications at the same time, in the dark, and that the roommate later complained that his medications did not feel effective. The second LPN reported that the resident’s condition appeared abnormal and that she eventually insisted he be sent out when he no longer responded as before. The CNA reported that the resident initially seemed at his baseline but later became more lethargic and took a “drastic turn” after his wife left. The DON acknowledged that the incident was possibly medication-related and that the resident’s transfer to the hospital for unresponsiveness was logged as an incident. Collectively, these actions and inactions—improper preparation and administration of medications, failure to promptly recognize and act on the reported medication mix-up, and delayed notification of a physician despite progressive lethargy—constituted the deficiency in ensuring the resident was free from significant medication errors.
Removal Plan
- The Vice President of Clinical Services created a performance improvement plan (PIP), presented it to the Director of Nursing (DON), and the DON assigned the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to assist with medication audits designed to address medication pass performance criteria.
- The DON began an investigation for a possible medication error requiring a resident to be sent to the hospital.
- The DON interviewed the nurse involved and obtained the nurse’s statement of the incident.
- The DON interviewed the nurse working the night of the event and obtained the nurse’s statement.
- The DON interviewed the CNA who worked with the resident the night of the event.
- The DON interviewed the resident’s roommate to obtain a statement.
- The facility provided education on proper medication administration and the five rights of medication administration.
- The DON initiated an in-service on safe medication administration techniques and change of condition with nurses currently on shift regarding the possible medication error.
- The facility implemented a plan for the DON/designee to educate nurses on changes of condition and the five rights of medication administration followed by medication administration audits.
- The facility completed education for all current full-time licensed nurses and implemented a plan for new and agency nurses to be educated upon hire/scheduling by unit managers.
- The facility continued the process for an agency nurse resource guide binder to be available for agency staff to review.
- The DON/ADON began auditing changes in condition per the established schedule, with results reviewed through QAPI and issues addressed as needed.
- The DON/ADON began medication audits per the established schedule, including audits of resident identification/picture identification availability, with results reviewed through QAPI and issues addressed as needed.
- The DON conducted interviews with nurses who had worked prior to the incident/event.
- The ADON completed skin checks and health assessments on residents with low BIMS scores to identify changes in condition or possible medication adverse effects.
- The Vice President of Clinical Services and DON reviewed current policies and procedures for medication administration and change in condition.
- The physician assessed the roommate resident for possible medication adverse effects and reviewed medications for the affected resident.
- The DON reviewed the agency staff process and provided report forms to nursing staff at the beginning of shift to inform nurses how residents take their medication, and identified additions needed to the process including five rights and change in condition policy/education.
- Social Services conducted resident interviews regarding life satisfaction, abuse/neglect, and comfort reporting concerns.
- The DON completed a one-on-one in-service with the nurse involved on safe medication administration and change in resident conditions.
- The DON initiated an in-service for nursing staff on when to notify the DON regarding accidents/incidents, significant changes, medication errors, and emergencies, and implemented education upon hire for new nurses.
- The facility placed the nurse involved on the Do Not Return list.
- The facility implemented a requirement for all residents to have a picture in their chart and completed an immediate audit to verify compliance.
- The physician reviewed medications for the affected resident upon return from the hospital.
- The provider reviewed and approved all medications and documents for the affected resident.
- Social Services interviewed residents to identify concerns about receiving other residents’ medications.
- The facility implemented a plan to discuss the incident at the next QAPI meeting and to review audit results through QAPI with issues addressed as needed.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with hypertension, CHF, and CAD had repeated episodes of markedly elevated BP that met parameters for PRN Clonidine, yet nursing staff did not administer the medication or document any clinical rationale for withholding it. The same resident also received Isosorbide Mononitrate despite ordered hold parameters requiring the drug to be withheld when systolic BP was below a specified threshold, with no justification documented. Nursing staff interviews revealed lack of awareness of the PRN order and the hold parameters, while the resident, with moderately impaired cognition, reported being on BP medications and experiencing headaches and dizziness at times.
A resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction was given another patient’s medications when a nurse failed to follow established medication administration procedures. The resident’s EHR documented that the Unit Manager was notified of a med error and that the resident received multiple medications not prescribed for him, including Tylenol, furosemide, spironolactone, olanzapine, Entresto, Brilinta, metoprolol, aspirin, ticagrelor, venlafaxine, and gabapentin. The DON stated that RNs are trained to use two identifiers and follow the facility’s Medication Administration policy, which requires verifying the resident by photo in the MAR and matching the medication source to the MAR for name, drug, dose, route, and time, but these steps were not followed in this instance.
An LPN, unfamiliar with residents on a medication cart and faced with two residents sharing the same first name, failed to correctly identify a resident and administered a full set of another resident’s medications in addition to the resident’s own ordered morning medications, including PRN oxycodone. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, subsequently experienced declining BP, reported not feeling well, and became increasingly fatigued. The facility’s policy required resident identification before medication administration, and the LPN acknowledged not knowing the residents and finding the EHR photos too small, despite their availability. Hospital records later documented hypotension, treatment with IV fluids, and a drug overdose after accidental ingestion of another resident’s medications plus the resident’s own, with persistent sinus bradycardia requiring admission for further hemodynamic monitoring.
A resident received an incorrect higher dose of Divalproex DR after the pharmacy dispensed 500 mg tablets labeled to be given multiple times daily, which did not match the physician’s order for 250 mg tablets. Nursing staff did not detect the discrepancy between the MAR and the medication card despite facility policy and expectations to verify the right dose and ensure orders matched dispensed medications. Over time, the resident developed weakness and altered mental status, was sent to the hospital at the family’s request, and was found to have an elevated valproic acid level, with hospital documentation indicating motor weakness was possibly medication-induced.
A resident missed 6 doses of a prescribed antibiotic, and the MAR did not show that the provider was notified. The RN acknowledged the missed doses and said they should have been reported, while the Medical Director stated she was unaware of the missed doses and would have extended the antibiotic course if informed. The DON also confirmed the missed doses and expected provider notification for any missed antibiotic dose.
A resident with ESRD on thrice-weekly dialysis, along with DM2, A-fib, COPD, and CHF and moderate cognitive impairment, did not receive scheduled morning medications, including metoprolol and linagliptin, while away at dialysis. The MAR documented that the 9 AM metoprolol dose was not given because the resident was away from the facility without medications, and a progress note confirmed that morning medications were not administered due to the dialysis appointment. The DON later confirmed these omissions and identified them as medication errors.
Failure to Follow Antihypertensive and Vasodilator Medication Parameters
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow physician orders for antihypertensive and vasodilator medications for a resident with hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease. The resident had an order dated 12/13/25 for Clonidine 0.2 mg every 12 hours as needed for systolic blood pressure greater than 180 or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90. The Medication Administration Records (MARs) for December 2025 and January 2026 showed multiple instances of significantly elevated blood pressures, including readings such as 248/100, 210/87, 235/101, 231/90, 187/88, and 212/87, documented by nursing staff. Despite these readings meeting the ordered parameters for as-needed Clonidine, there was no documentation that Clonidine was administered on those dates, nor was there any documented clinical rationale for withholding the medication in the nursing progress notes. Interviews with nursing staff revealed a lack of awareness and follow-through regarding the as-needed Clonidine order. One nurse stated she had not been assigned to the resident for a while prior to recording the elevated blood pressures, and another nurse reported she was not aware that the resident had an order for as-needed Clonidine for elevated blood pressure. When later contacted, that nurse declined to comment further on the medication issue that occurred in January. The Nurse Practitioner confirmed that the as-needed Clonidine was ordered for a reason and that the blood pressure parameters should have been followed, with the medication administered when indicated. The facility also failed to follow hold parameters for Isosorbide Mononitrate extended release 60 mg, ordered on 4/6/26 to be given once daily for angina with instructions to hold the medication if systolic blood pressure was less than 120. The April 2026 MAR showed that the medication was administered on multiple occasions when the resident’s systolic blood pressure was below 120, including readings of 112/76, 118/70, and 118/75, with no documentation or clinical justification in the nursing progress notes for giving the medication despite the hold parameters. A nurse involved stated she had not held the Isosorbide Mononitrate and did not realize the medication had hold parameters, explaining that the hold parameters were not noticeable on the electronic MAR and were therefore overlooked. The resident, who had moderately impaired cognition per a quarterly MDS, reported being on blood pressure medications but did not know which ones or their schedule, and described experiencing headaches and dizziness at times. The Nurse Practitioner and the DON both stated that ordered parameters for these medications should have been followed by the nursing staff.
Medication Error Involving Administration of Another Resident’s Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors when a nurse administered another resident’s medications. The affected resident is an adult male with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the left dominant side, receiving Intermediate Care Facility level of care. A complaint was filed with the Office of Health Care Assurance alleging that the resident had been given another patient’s medications. Review of the resident’s electronic health record showed a progress note documenting that the Unit Manager was notified that a nurse made a medication error and that the resident was given another patient’s medications. The record specified that the resident received multiple medications not prescribed for him, including Tylenol, furosemide, spironolactone, olanzapine, Entresto, Brilinta, metoprolol, aspirin, ticagrelor, venlafaxine, and gabapentin. During an interview, the DON confirmed that RNs are trained and instructed to identify residents using two identifiers (name and date of birth) at all times. Review of the facility’s “Medication Administration” policy, revised 03/01/26, showed that staff are instructed to identify the resident by photo in the MAR, review the MAR to identify the medication to be administered, and compare the medication source to verify resident name, medication name, form, dose, route, and time. Despite these policies and training, the nurse did not follow the required resident identification and medication verification steps, resulting in the administration of another resident’s medications.
Significant Medication Error From Misidentification During Med Pass
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure residents were free from significant medication errors and to follow the 5 rights of medication administration, resulting in one resident receiving another resident’s medications in addition to their own. The resident had diagnoses including hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and toxic encephalopathy, with a BIMS score of 3 indicating severe cognitive impairment. On the morning in question, review of the MAR showed the resident received their ordered medications, which included aspirin, calcium carbonate, vitamin C, vitamin D, fluoxetine 20 mg, furosemide 40 mg, galantamine, a lidocaine patch, memantine, acetaminophen, and PRN oxycodone around 8:00 a.m. According to the incident report and nursing progress notes, the LPN (Staff A) administered another resident’s full set of morning medications to this resident while the resident was in the dining room. These additional medications included metoprolol 60 mg, Lyrica 75 mg, oxycodone 7.5/325 mg, furosemide 40 mg, celecoxib 100 mg, Prozac 60 mg, hydroxyzine 10 mg, cetirizine 10 mg, Neuriva, Protonix 20 mg, potassium 99 mg, a multivitamin, and vitamin D3. These medications were given in addition to the resident’s own morning medications and PRN oxycodone. The nurse’s notes documented that the resident’s blood pressure readings declined from 100/50 to 85/48 and then to 73/48, and the resident complained of not feeling well and was increasingly fatigued. Staff A reported during interview that the resident had been screaming and yelling and that she did not realize there were two residents with the same first name in the back hallway. She stated it was her first time working in that hallway after training and that, although resident pictures were available in the EHR to assist with identification, she felt they were small and she did not know the residents. The facility’s medication management policy required staff to identify the resident before administering medications. Staff A’s employee record showed a prior medication occurrence in which she administered the wrong medications (including furosemide and potassium) to a resident, and she had documented previously that she was not familiar with residents when working on that cart. The resident was ultimately sent to the ER, where records documented hypotension on admission, treatment with IV fluids, and a chief complaint of drug overdose after accidental ingestion of another resident’s multiple medications in addition to the resident’s own medications, with continued sinus bradycardia requiring admission for further hemodynamic monitoring.
Significant Medication Error From Incorrect Divalproex Dose
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors, specifically related to incorrect dosing of Divalproex DR. Clinical record review showed that the resident was being seen repeatedly by advanced practice providers in June for muscle weakness and weakness. A nurse practitioner documented on 6/23/25 that the resident’s weakness was found to be due to an incorrect medication dose being dispensed, noting a 500 mg dose instead of the ordered 250 mg. The physician’s order specified Divalproex DR 250 mg tablets, but the medication dispensed and administered was Divalproex DR 500 mg. Pharmacy records and interviews confirmed that on 5/18/25, the pharmacy dispensed 150 tablets of Divalproex DR 500 mg with a label instructing staff to give two tablets in the morning and three at bedtime, which did not match the physician’s order for 250 mg tablets. Nursing staff interviews indicated that nurses were expected to follow the facility’s medication administration policy, including verifying the right resident, right medication, right dose, and ensuring the medication card matched the MAR. The DON and multiple LPNs stated that if the pharmacy sent the wrong medication or if the milligrams did not match the MAR, nurses were expected to identify and correct the discrepancy, but this did not occur in this case. On 6/20/25, the resident was assessed by an LPN who initially stated she did not observe changes in condition, but her documentation reflected that the resident had altered mental status, and the resident’s mother requested hospital transfer. At the hospital, the discharge summary indicated that the resident’s motor weakness was possibly medication-induced, and lab results showed a valproic acid level of 115, above the normal range of 50–100. A physician assistant interviewed later confirmed that increased doses of Divalproex DR can cause drowsiness, muscle weakness, skin reactions, somnolence, nausea, and vomiting. These findings collectively demonstrate that the resident received an incorrect, higher dose of Divalproex DR over time, constituting a significant medication error that resulted in harm.
Missed Antibiotic Doses Not Reported to Provider
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that Resident ID #17 was free from significant medication errors when the resident missed 6 doses of a prescribed antibiotic. The resident was admitted in April 2026 with diagnoses including surgical aftercare and complication of surgical and medical care, and had a physician order dated 4/3/2026 for Cefadroxil 500 mg by mouth twice daily for 14 days. Review of the April 2026 MAR showed missed doses on 4/3 at 8:00 PM, 4/6 at 8:00 PM, 4/11 at 8:00 PM, 4/12 at 8:00 AM, 4/14 at 8:00 PM, and 4/17 at 8:00 AM. The record did not show that the provider was notified of the missed antibiotic doses. During interview, the RN acknowledged the 6 missed doses and stated they should have been reported to the provider. The Medical Director stated she was unaware of the missed doses and said she would have extended the antibiotic course if she had known. The DON also acknowledged the missed doses and stated she would expect the provider to be informed if a resident misses any dose of an antibiotic.
Failure to Administer Ordered Medications During Dialysis Absence
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors when required medications were not administered as ordered while the resident was away from the facility for dialysis. The resident had multiple serious diagnoses, including end stage renal disease requiring dialysis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, COPD, and chronic heart failure, and was assessed with moderate cognitive impairment. The resident required extensive assistance with most activities of daily living and was receiving dialysis services three times weekly. The comprehensive care plan documented scheduled dialysis on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On a documented dialysis day, the resident did not receive the scheduled 9 AM dose of metoprolol tartrate 25 mg because the resident was away from the facility without medications. The medication administration record showed a code indicating the medication was not given due to the resident being away, and a progress note stated that morning medications were not administered because the resident was at dialysis that morning. Later, the physician ordered metoprolol to be given after the resident’s heart rate was found to be 116. In an interview, the DON confirmed that the resident did not receive metoprolol and linagliptin on that date and acknowledged that the omission constituted a medication error.
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release June 24, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
Trusted by long-term care providers and associations.
