The Issue Whether Respondent committed the violations alleged in the Amended Administrative Complaint and, if so, what penalty should be imposed.
Findings Of Fact AHCA is the agency responsible for the licensing and regulation of assisted living facilities in Florida pursuant to chapters 429 and 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. At all times material hereto, Kipling Manor was licensed by AHCA as an assisted living facility. Kipling Manor is located in Pensacola, Florida, and operates a 65-bed facility, license number 7285, and holds a specialty limited health license. Norma Endress is a registered nurse employed by AHCA. She conducts surveys of nursing homes and assisted living facilities for compliance. Ms. Endress is supervised by Patricia McIntire, a nurse consultant supervisor for AHCA. Ms. McIntyre has been with AHCA for 13 years. Belie Williams is the administrator of Kipling Manor. He has been involved with health care services for approximately 35 years, and has been an administrator of ALFs for approximately 15 years. He has been involved with the Florida Assisted Living Association (FALA) and served on its board. Mr. Williams helped implement training sessions for ALFs in conjunction with FALA for the past eight years. Kipling Manor has two nurses who visit the facility to provide care to the residents. Elizabeth McCormick is an advanced nurse practitioner (ARNP) in family, psychiatric and mental health. She has been a nurse since 1983 and has extensive experience dealing with inpatient and outpatient psychiatric residents in long-term facilities. Nurse McCormick works with a VA facility providing inpatient and outpatient care on a high intensity psychiatric unit. She was also an assistant professor at the University of West Florida in the Mental Health Nursing Program. Nurse McCormick provides medical and mental healthcare for residents at several ALFs in Pensacola, including Kipling Manor. She sees patients at Kipling Manor several times a month. She manages the healthcare of residents, diagnoses illnesses, and writes prescriptions as needed. She describes Kipling Manor as not being a typical setting because her patients there are seriously mentally ill, which presents huge challenges. Angela Lavigne is a registered nurse certified by Medicare to provide psychiatric care to patients. She is employed by a company called Senior Care. Among other things, she works with assisted living facilities providing therapeutic counseling, assisting doctors with adjusting medication, and providing in-service training to staff of these facilities in regard to psychiatric care. Nurse Lavigne has been seeing patients at Kipling Manor for almost three years. She visits Kipling Manor approximately four times a week. At the time of the survey, she visited the facility once or twice a week. She provides patient care as well as in-service training to the staff regarding psychiatric issues. She also runs group sessions with the residents to make them feel more independent and feel more like they are in their homes. On July 12 through 14, 2011, Nurse Endress conducted an unannounced complaint survey of Kipling Manor that gave rise to the Amended Administrative Complaint and to this proceeding. Count I--Resident 8 Count I alleges that Kipling Manor failed to provide incontinent care for Resident 8 and failed to provide nail and facial care for Resident 6. Ms. Endress observed Resident 8 walking with a "med tech" to the "med room" to receive her medications. Ms. Endress observed wetness on Resident 8's clothes, and noticed the smell of urine. The med tech gave Resident 8 her medications, then assisted her to an open area where Resident 8 sat down. Ms. Endress observed Resident 8 for about two hours. Ms. Endress approached a personal care assistant (PCA), who was a new employee, and inquired of the PCA as to whether the resident was incontinent. As a result of this inquiry, Ms. Endress believed that this resident was incontinent. After approximately two hours had passed, Ms. Endress called this to the attention of the PCA, who then changed Resident 8 immediately. Ms. Endress determined that Respondent was "not providing care for this lady, incontinent care. They were not monitoring her." This determination was based in large part on her belief that Resident 8 was incontinent. However, Resident 8's health assessment indicates that Resident 8 needed supervision while toileting, but did not carry a diagnosis of incontinence. Ms. Endress acknowledged at hearing that supervision with toileting is not the same thing as being diagnosed with incontinence. Resident 8's health assessment also reflects diagnoses of personality disorder, dementia, and Alzheimer's among other conditions. Ms. McCormick provided health care services to Resident 8. She quite frequently is involved with residents who have toileting issues. Had Resident 8 developed skin problems because of toileting issues, she would have been aware of it. Ms. McCormick noted that the records indicated that Resident 8 received a skin cream three times a day to prevent such skin problems. Both Ms. Endress and Ms. McCormick are of the opinion that, while it is better to change a resident as soon as possible, a two-hour check is appropriate for someone with toileting issues. According to Ms. McCormick, if she were looking to determine whether there existed a direct physical threat to Resident 8, there would be monitoring for skin breakdown, redness or irritation, or a possible urinary tract infection (UTI). Neither Ms. McCormick nor Ms. Lavigne were notified or saw any signs of a skin infection, other skin problems, or a UTI regarding Resident 8. There was no evidence presented that Resident had any skin problems or UTI as a result of this incident or her toileting issues. Erica Crenshaw is a "med tech" and a supervisor employed by Kipling Manor. She provided care for Resident 8 and was on duty the days of the survey in question. Ms. Crenshaw verified that Resident 8 was on a two-hour check at the time of the survey. This involved checking to see if Resident 8 was wet or dry. If she were found to be wet, staff would take off the resident's brief, change and wipe the resident, put on a new brief noting the date and time, as well as recording the staff person's initials. When changing Resident 8, staff would apply a barrier cream, and check to see if any bed sores developed. Ms. Endress determined that this was a Class II violation because of the potential for skin breakdown and infection as well as potential for emotional harm, in that she perceived this as a dignity issue for Resident 8. Ms. Endress based this opinion in large part on her mistaken belief that Resident 8 was incontinent. Her supervisor, Ms. McIntyre, reviewed the classification recommended by Ms. Endress and concurred that Class II was appropriate because "[r]esidents, in particular elderly residents, left sitting in urine, there is a great potential for them to experience skin breakdowns, which would certainly have a severe negative impact on their physical health." Mr. Williams saw Resident 8 while Ms. Endress was conducting her inspection. He saw that she was wet from urine on the back of her clothes. He did not detect any strong odor of urine although he was close to her. Count I--Resident 6 Count I also includes allegations regarding Resident Ms. Endress observed Resident 6 with long facial hair (Resident 6 is female) and long, dirty fingernails. Ms. Endress interviewed Resident 6 regarding these observations. Based upon this interview, Ms. Endress believed that staff did not cut her facial hair or trim her nails, despite Resident 6 wanting them to do so. Ms. Endress estimated Resident 6's nails to be approximately one-quarter inch long but could not recall the length of her facial hair. Resident 6's health assessment reflects a diagnosis of dementia with poor short term memory, and that she needs assistance bathing, dressing, and grooming. Erica Crenshaw described Resident 6 as "a little difficult to work with." Staff works on nails, hands and feet, two days a week. If at first Resident 6 was resistant to having her nails trimmed, they would "give her space" then approach her again later. She described Resident 6's nails as "pretty decent." Resident 6 received health care from both Ms. Lavigne and Ms. McCormick. Both nurses are of the opinion that staff worked with Resident 6 to keep her nails in good shape. As a resident of an ALF, Ms. McCormick noted that Resident 6 had the right to refuse nail care and decide whether her nails needed to be trimmed. Ms. Lavigne informed staff that they needed to work with Resident 6 at her own pace, and to be careful not to make her combative. Ms. Lavigne treated Resident 6 for a wrist problem in mid-summer of 2011, when Resident 6 was in a splint for approximately six weeks, and received physical therapy. She described Resident 6's nails as "nice, round, nothing broken, nothing chipped. Every once in a while she's actually let staff put nail polish on them but as far as cutting them down, it's like an act of Congress to get her to sit down enough to trim them." There is no evidence as to what could have been under Resident 6's nails when Ms. Endress saw her. However, the evidence establishes that Resident 6's nails were tended to by staff on a regular basis, and that her treating nurse was not aware of any problem with them. Regarding facial hair, Ms. Lavigne never noticed any facial hair on Resident 6 other than having "a couple little whiskers here and there." Ms. Lavigne was Resident 6's treating nurse in the general time-period around the survey in question, and was never informed about any problems with Resident 6 regarding nails or facial hair, nor noticed any. Ms. Endress classified the findings she made regarding Resident 6's nails and hair as a Class II violation because she perceived it as a "dignity issue because women do not like facial hair on them." Ms. McIntyre confirmed the class determined by Ms. Endress, although the record is not clear why. Count II--cleanliness and maintenance Count II of the Amended Administrative Complaint alleges that Kipling Manor failed to honor the rights of residents by not providing a safe and decent living environment to prevent the spread of disease for all residents. The Amended Administrative Complaint alleges in pertinent part as follows: In an interview resident #3 on 7/12/11 at 9:00 am stated this place was not clean. He stated the cook will have gloves on his hands when he leaves the kitchen. The cook continues rolling the food down the hallway to the dining room while simultaneously rolling the open garbage container which is soiled. Without changing his gloves he will serve the food to the residents.1/ An observation of lunch on 7/12/11 at 12:00 pm revealed the cook serving turkey with gloved hands not using a utensil. Without changing his gloves he handled silver ware, moved a gallon of milk and was touching the dining room table. He was using the same gloved hand to serve corn bread. While serving food he never changed his gloves between clean and dirty. Other staff wearing gloves were serving lunch to residents and cleaning tables and pouring beverages without changing gloves. They were serving beverages touching the rims of glasses without changing clothes [sic]. During the survey, the following was seen: Bathroom floor for room 9 on wing 1 was dirty with build-up of dirt in the corners. Lounge area at the end of wing 1 had a broken recliner that was being used by a resident. The floor and furniture were soiled. Room and bathroom #3 on wing 1 had dirty floors with build-up of dirt along baseboards and the toilet lid was too small for the tank. Vents were clogged with dust. The door was too short for the opening; wood was missing on door frame and the threshold had broken tile. Dining room bathroom at the end of wing 2 had dirty floors with build-up of dirt along baseboards; around bottom of the toilet was black and the seal was cracked. Dining room floors were dirty and walls had dried food on them. Room 27 had filthy floors with build up along baseboards; dried spills were noted and the drywall had a hole in it. Wing 2 had drywall that was pulling away from ceiling and the ceiling had brown water spots: soiled dirty walls; dirty baseboards with build up of dust; spills on walls and vents dusty. Wing 2 had no baseboard near the shower; the cabinet had mildew on the outside surface; the wood was warped and peeling. The sink was soiled with dried brown substance. The door to the cabinet would not close. The baseboard wood near sink was split and the drywall had an indentation of the door knob. Room 21 floors were filthy and smelled of urine. Soiled clothes laid on the floor with soiled underwear which were observed while medication technician was assisting resident. No action was taken by the medication technician. Laundry room floors were filthy. There was no division between clean clothes and dirty clothes. Clothes were lying on the floor.2/ Based upon this complaint, Ms. Endress observed the dining room during a meal and toured the building. At hearing, Ms. Endress acknowledged that she did not see the cook touch the garbage pail or garbage and then touch food. She maintained, however, that she observed the cook while wearing gloves, touch food then touch "dirty surfaces," then go back and touch food on plates and touch the rims on glasses. Ms. Endress did not specify at hearing what she meant by "dirty surfaces," but in her report which was the basis for the Amended Administrative Complaint, she noted that the cook would touch food and then touch surfaces such as moving a gallon of milk, touching the dining room table, and handling silver ware. She also testified that she saw other staff wearing gloves who were serving residents, cleaning tables, and serving beverages without changing their gloves. Deborah Jackson is a personal care assistant (PCA), food server, and laundry worker at Kipling Manor. Ms. Jackson and one other PCA serve meals for about 60 residents. She received training in food service. She was working at Kipling Manor the days Ms. Endress was there for the survey. Ms. Jackson always wears gloves when serving the residents. If she touches anything besides food she changes gloves. For example, if she moves chairs, she changes gloves before resuming food service. She has never seen the other PCA touch other items then serve food. She was trained never to touch the rims of the glasses but to pick up glasses and cups from the side. She goes through "probably a whole box" of gloves in a day. According to Ms. Jackson, the cook stands behind the area and puts the food on the plates, preparing two plates at a time. She watches him prepare the plates of food. She and the other PCA then serve the food to the residents. The garbage can is kept in the back, not where food is being served. She has never seen the cook touch the garbage can then prepare plates of food. When he has finished, he takes all "his stuff" out on a cart, while the PCAs clean up. If a resident spilled food, the PCAs, not the cook, would clean it up. L.N. was the cook at the time of the survey inspection. L.N. was hired in April 2011 and received training in infectious control and food service sanitation. L.N. no longer works for Kipling Manor.3/ Billie Williams, as administrator of Kipling Manor, confirmed Ms. Jackson's description of the cook's role in serving dinner. That is, that the cook prepared plates of food and the PCAs then served the residents. At hearing, Ms. Endress essentially reiterated her findings regarding the other allegations in count II dealing with the cleanliness and condition of the facility. No further proof was offered regarding these or any other allegations in the Amended Administrative Complaint. Mr. Williams' testimony contradicted much of what Ms. Endress described regarding the cleanliness and condition of the facility. Specifically, Mr. Williams noted that on the day of the survey inspection, maintenance men were repairing a ceiling leak. The ceiling leak was the cause of the "drywall pulling away from the ceiling" and the "brown water spots" on the ceiling cited in the Amended Administrative Complaint. These conditions were the result of the water leak and were in the process of being repaired at the time of the survey. The workers arrived early in the morning and cut drywall from the ceiling where the water dripped down on it. They necessarily used a ladder to do the ceiling repair work. A maintenance man stood at the bottom of the ladder and, if a resident approached, would escort the resident around the ladder. Regarding the issues of cleanliness, Mr. Williams has two housekeepers, a person who does the laundry, and two maintenance men. Mr. Williams acknowledged that there may be a small wax buildup along baseboards or on the inside corner of a door. However, the two maintenance men wax, strip, and buff the floors throughout the building. The floors are swept and buffed every day. The baseboards (wall to floor) are dust mopped twice a day. Regarding the allegation that there was black around the bottom of the toilet and the seal was cracked in the bathroom off the dining room area, Mr. Williams went to that room with the maintenance men to personally inspect it. He observed some discoloration on the floor where the toilet may have overflowed at some time and got underneath the tile. The maintenance men cleaned this immediately and replaced the tile. Regarding the allegation that there was mildew on a bathroom cabinet, Mr. Williams inspected the black mark and found it to be a tire mark from a wheelchair. He found no mold or mildew. The black mark was removed. There is a separate laundry room where washers and dryers are located. Any clothes on the floor are for sorting or separating by color or other reason prior to washing. Once clothes are washed, they are taken back to the residents' rooms immediately. Clean sheets, towels, and wash cloths are placed on wooden shelves that were built for that purpose. There is no evidence that establishes that clean and dirty clothes were mixed on the floor. Mr. Williams also inspected the recliner. The recliner has snap-on armrests and one had been snapped off. The maintenance men snapped the armrest back on the chair, and it was easily repaired. Regarding the allegation that the drywall in a bathroom had an indentation of the door knob, Mr. Williams inspected that and found that the doorstop on the bottom had broken off. There was an indentation in the wall the size of a doorknob where the door had been opened hard. This was repaired by the maintenance men. Regarding the allegation of vents being clogged with dust in a room and bathroom, Mr. Williams found "a little" dust on a vent which was cleaned immediately by staff. He then instructed staff to check the vents daily for dust build-up. Mr. Williams could not find a door that was too short for the opening, and noted that this would be a fire code violation. Kipling Manor is current on fire and health safety inspections. In general response to the allegations regarding cleanliness and maintenance and to a question asking whether he keeps a well-maintained building, Mr. Williams stated: We try our best. I mean, I have--you know, when you have incontinent residents who are demented, who are bipolar or suffering from depression, they will do things. And, yes, they do. And like, I think in one of the reports she wrote up, there was wet clothes on the floor. Well, if a resident, some of them are semi-independent, too. I mean, they take care of their own needs. If they had an incontinent issue that morning, and they took their clothes off and left it there on the floor, you know, they expect the staff to pick it up and take it to a laundry room when they come through. You know, we do, I think, we do a darn good job given the -- a lot of my residents have been homeless, have never had any structured living. Nobody else in town takes them, but I have. Ms. Endress classified the alleged violations in Count II as Class II "because of the potential for harm to residents which could occur from an unsafe environment and potential spread of infection." Ms. McIntyre agreed with Ms. Endress that "the totality of all the findings are what drove the deficiency to be considered a Class II." Count III--Resident 4 medications Count III alleges that Kipling Manor failed to administer medications according to the medication observation record (MOR) for 1 out of 9 sampled residents (Resident 4). During lunch, Ms. Endress observed Resident 4 become agitated, rub his face, and complain loudly in the dining room. Following an observation of this resident and a conversation with him, Ms. Endress reviewed Resident 4's medication observation record (MOR) and health assessment. Ms. Endress determined that Resident 4 had not been given one of his medications, Interferon, when scheduled. The MOR shows a time for administration as 8 a.m. According to Ms. Endress, on the date this took place, July 12, 2011, the MOR was blank in the box that should be initialed when the medication was administered. The MOR in evidence, however, reflects initials in that box (i.e., it is not blank). When a drug is self-administered, the staff member initials the box for that day. Erica Crenshaw recognized and identified the initials in the box for that day as those of former unit manager Tekara Levine, who trained Ms. Crenshaw. According to Mr. Williams, Ms. Levine, was certified in the self- administration of medications and was a trustworthy employee. Ms. Endress observed Resident 4 wheel himself from the dining room to the medication room and self-administer his medication. This occurred around noon that day. Ms. Endress determined this to be a Class II violation as she believed it directly threatened the resident emotionally. She based this in part on the resident's demeanor before the medication and afterwards, and the comments the resident made to her. Resident 4 is one of Nurse Lavigne's patients. Resident 4 has a diagnosis of MS, major depression, post traumatic stress disorder, a paranoid psychosis, and anxiety and affective disorder. He receives Interferon for his MS. It is injectable and he self-administers it every other day. According to Nurse Lavigne, there is no doctor's order stating that the Interferon must be given at 8 a.m. or any other particular time. The injection can be administered at any time during the day. Resident 4 sometimes gets confused about his medications. He gets extremely upset if he thinks he has not gotten his medications. He will sometimes tell her (Nurse Lavigne) that he did not receive a particular medication when he, in fact, did receive it. Once he is shown the MOR indicating that he has received his medication, he visibly calms down. He does not like to leave his room because he thinks somebody is changing stations on his TV. Regarding his once-a- day medications, staff will wait until he is ready to come out of his room because he can get agitated. He sometimes gets upset if there are a lot of people around him, such as in the dining room. Nurse Lavigne does a full assessment when she sees Resident 4. She was not aware of any problems with Resident 4 during that time period regarding his medications. While the record is unclear as to why Resident 4's MOR shows an administration time of 8 a.m., the evidence established, through Nurse Levine, his treating nurse, that there is no doctor's order requiring that the drug be administered at that particular time. The evidence also established that Resident 4 self-administered his medication at noon on July 14, and that this was initialed by a staff member on his MOR. Count IV--Resident 1 medications As a result of a complaint received, Ms. Endress interviewed residents about their medications and spoke to a new staff member. Based upon these interviews, Ms. Endress determined that one of Resident 1's medications (Flexeril) had not been available for one dose on July 13, 2011, and another of this resident's medications (Visteril) had not been available from June 23 until July 12, 2011). Ms. Endress classified this alleged violation as a Class II because she determined that that it directly affected the resident psychologically and physically. Resident 1 had a diagnosis of COPD and has an anxiety disorder. She is alert and oriented. Resident 1 was prescribed Flexeril to be administered every evening, and Vistaril and Ativan for anxiety. She is to receive Ativan twice a day and PRN (as needed) and Visteril before bed and PRN. Each day a medication is administered, the residents' MORs are initialed by staff in a box indicating each day of the month. However, if the resident runs out of a drug, the staff member will put a circle in the box representing that day and makes a note on the back of the MOR. No circles or notes appear on Resident 1's MOR indicating that either drug was not available. Resident 1 is a patient of Nurse McCormick. Resident 1 becomes anxious or agitated if she does not receive her medication for her anxiety disorder. Nurse McCormick considered Resident 1's anxiety disorder well controlled by the medications. Resident 1's MOR reflects that she received Visteral from June 1 through 30 at night as ordered and received it PRN several times prior to June 23, 2011, but did not receive it PRN the rest of the month of June or July 1 through 14. She also received Ativan twice a day routinely in June and July and five times PRN during the period June 23 through 30, 2011, and four times during the period July 1 through 14. According to Nurse McCormick, either medication was appropriate for controlling Resident 1's anxiety disorder. Resident 1's MOR reflects that she received Flexeril on June 30, 2011. Nurse McCormick was not made aware at any time that Resident 1 was not receiving any of her medications. As the treating and prescribing nurse, missed or unavailable medications would have come to Nurse McCormick's attention. Resident 1 was not anxious, nervous or agitated when interviewed by Ms. Endress on July 12, 2011. There is no competent evidence that Resident 1 displayed any signs of anxiety, nervousness or agitation during the survey or during the times that the Amended Administrative Complaint alleges that she did not receive her medication. Nurse McCormick found the staff of Kipling Manor to be careful with all residents. She has been to the facility at various times of the day from early in the morning to late into the evening. Nurse McCormick is of the opinion that the staff takes care of all its residents and provides them with dignity. Despite Kipling Manor's resident population of seriously mentally ill residents, Nurse McCormick is of the opinion that the facility manages its residents with dignity and care. Count V--Background Check The Amended Administrative Complaint alleges that one staff member of Kipling Manor, the cook, had not been background screened. Based upon record review and staff interview, Ms. Endress determined that the facility did not complete a level 2 background check for 1 out of 8 sampled staff members. A record review revealed that this employee had been hired in April 2011. On April 26, 2011, the employee in question signed an Affidavit of Compliance with Background Screening Requirements, using AHCA form #3100-0008. By signing this form, the employee attested to never having been arrested for, pled nolo contendere to, or convicted of certain disqualifying offenses. Mr. Williams did not complete a background check on the cook because he did not think the cook was covered under the law. That is, he did not think the law applied to the cook because of the lack of personal contact with the residents. The cook is present during meal times serving plates of food to the dining workers who then directly serve the residents. The living areas are accessible to the cook. This employee no longer works at Kipling Manor. The record is not clear as to when he stopped working there. Ms. Endress determined that this constituted a Class II deficiency as she believed that it could potentially lead to harm to residents of the facility. According to Ms. McIntyre, AHCA always imposes a Level II deficiency for failure to have a level 2 background screening for employees. Both Ms. Endress and Ms. McIntyre testified at hearing regarding what constitutes Class II and Class III deficiencies. In several instances, Ms. Endress classified a violation or deficiency that could potentially result in harm to a resident as a Class II. Ms. McIntyre testified that "a potential harm to a resident could be a class II deficiency." She described a Class III as one that "indirectly threatens the physical, emotional health or safety of a resident. . . . indirectly or potentially." The Agency provided a mandatory correction date of August 1, 2011, for all five counts in the Administrative Complaint.
Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law set forth herein, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Agency for Health Care Administration enter a final order imposing a fine of $2,000, imposing a survey fee of $500, and dismissing the remaining allegations of the Amended Administrative Complaint against Respondent, Kipling Manor. DONE AND ENTERED this 1st day of May, 2012, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S BARBARA J. STAROS Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 1st day of May, 2012.
The Issue Whether disciplinary action should be taken against the Respondent , Michael Barlow, L. P. N., who holds License No. 38497-1.
Findings Of Fact The aforementioned stipulation dated March 6, 1980, provides: The Respondent does not deny the authenticity of the records at the Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center, Pensacola, Florida, and hereby agrees that in each and every incident contained in the administrative complaint if the records show that he did not in fact chart said medications, he does not contest the fact that he did not chart the medication as contained in Counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 thereof. Further, the licensee maintains that he will appear at the hearing and present testimony to the effect that his failure to properly chart was due to a lack of proper orientation at the time that he was employed by the Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center. The administrative complaint contained fourteen (14) counts seven (7) of which, Counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, were allegations of misconduct by failure to chart medications and the remainder, Counts 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 14, were allegations that the foregoing respectively numbered allegations were in violation of various sections of Chapter 464, Florida Statutes. The following exhibits were admitted into evidence without objection: True copies of the patient records pertaining to the factual allegations of the administrative complaint, petitioner's Exhibit 2; Pertinent parts of the Policies and Procedures Manual of Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center, petitioner's Composite Exhibit 3; An employer/employee agreement between Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center and Respondent Barlow, petitioner's Exhibit 4; An orientation check sheet for new employees signed by respondent on December 13, 1979, affirming that respondent was instructed as to the policy of the employer on medication protocol Petitioner's Exhibit 5; A summary of patient profiles of the amounts of Valium and Tylenol No. 3 that were signed out but not charted on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) as alleged in Counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 of the administrative complaint, petitioner's Exhibit 6(a) and (b); A document entitled "Charted on MAR" indicating medications other than Valium and Tylenol No. 3 administered by respondent to the same patients named in Counts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 of the administrative complaint, petitioner's Exhibit 7; A drug order form showing that a patient had been authorized to take Valium 5 mg. by a Dr. Augustus. The handwriting on the order form was identified by a handwriting authority as that of Respondent Barlow rather than Dr. Augustus, petitioner's Exhibit 8. The current director of nursing at Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center placed or had placed the policies and procedures manual at the nursing stations on each floor of the center and gave or had given an orientation program to each nurse, including Respondent Barlow, at the time of employment at the center. The director of nursing did not know why respondent charted drugs for the patients with the exception of the Valium and Tylenol No. 3. At the hearing Respondent Barlow admitted he had read the documents submitted into evidence but stated that he did not know he was supposed to chart the controlled substances. He had previously worked at a Baptist hospital and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it was not required that the licensed practical nurse sign out for Valium on the Medication Administration Record inasmuch as the pharmacy dispensed the medication. He said that he administered to the patients all medications checked out for them; that he was not supervised by a registered nurse as he now feels that he should have been; and that he had not been given proper orientation at Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center as to what was considered a controlled drug. The respondent further stated that there was a shortage of nurses in relation to the number of patients in the center and that he was extremely busy administering to the patients during his employment. He pointed out that the medications he properly charted were noted on the front of the form and that he was supposed to chart the Valium and Tylenol No. 3 on the back, but that he had not been required to chart said drugs in his former employment and that he did not know to turn the form over and chart the Valium and Tylenol No. 3 on the back. He said he was never instructed as to how to fill out the form. After consideration of the testimony of the parties and the witnesses and examination of the evidence, the hearing officer finds that Respondent Barlow was guilty of negligence in failing to carefully read and study the policies and procedures manual provided by Magnolias Nursing and Convalescent Center and in failing to learn the policies, procedures and protocol in use at his place of employment. The hearing officer finds that respondent failed to chart the controlled substances as required, but that his failure was unintentional and due to his negligence, crowded conditions and a heavy demanding workload.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law the hearing officer recommends that the respondent, Michael Barlow, be placed on probation for a period of six (6) months from the date hereof. DONE and ORDERED this 22nd day of May, 1980, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings Room 101, Collins Building Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 COPIES FURNISHED: Michael I. Schwartz, Esquire Suite 201, Ellis Building 1311 Executive Center Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Mr. Michael C. Barlow 6111 Lebanon Lane Pensacola, Florida 32504 Geraldine B. Johnson, R. N. Board of Nursing 111 Coastline Drive East, Suite 504 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 ================================================================= AGENCY FINAL ORDER ================================================================= STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION BOARD OF NURSING In Re: Michael C. Barlow, L.P.N. NO. FSBN 79-MIS-1 License No. 38497-1 CASE NO. 80-255 / This cause came to be heard by the Florida Board of Nursing of the Department of Professional Regulation on June 24, 1980 in Jacksonville, Florida for the purpose of determining whether disciplinary action should be taken against the licensee pursuant to Sections 464.018(1)(f) and (g), F.S. A formal hearing, conducted at the licensee's election pursuant to Section 120.57(1), F.S., resulted in the rendering of a recommended order from the Division of Administrative Hearings. Exceptions were filed to the Recommended Order by the Attorney representing the Board of Nursing at the administrative hearing. The licensee filed no exceptions. The Board has reviewed the complete record and each Board member has certified that she has reviewed it. Based upon such review of the complete record, the Findings of Fact set forth in the Recommended Order are accepted by the Board as its own Findings with the additional Finding that the licensee was completely unaware that Valium was a controlled substance but thought that it was a legend drug. This fact is clear and undisputed from the record of the hearing at which the licensee admitted not knowing the drug's status. The Conclusions of Law contained in the Recommended Order are adopted by the Board as its own and are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. Based upon its review of the complete record, the Board does not feel that the recommended penalty of six months probation is appropriate under the circumstances. Given the seriousness of the undisputed facts, the Board hereby ORDERS and ADJUDGES that the licensee be placed on probation for a period of one (1) year, that during said probationary period, the licensee shall successfully complete a course in charting the administration of medications to patients and further that during the probationary period the licensee assure that quarterly evaluation reports are submitted to the board by his employer. By order of the Florida Board of Nursing, this 11th day of July, 1980. Mary F. Henry, Chairman Florida Board of Nursing cc: Michael Barlow 308 West Gregory Street, No. 3 Pensacola, Florida 32501 Mike Schwartz, Esquire
Findings Of Fact At all pertinent times, respondent Margie V. Gray Denomme worked the 3- to-11 shift as a licensed practical nurse on the orthopedic floor, 3 North, of West Florida Hospital, in Pensacola. On or about September 9, 1980, respondent was counseled for failing to record the administration of Stadol and Demerol, controlled substances, "on MAR." Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. CHART NO. 670613 On December 19, 1980, Dr. Hooper ordered, inter alia, 10 to 12 milligrams of morphine sulfate for a patient (Chart No. 670613) "q 3-4 hrs prn pain." Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. According to a Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record, Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2, respondent administered 10 milligrams of a 15-milligram tubex of morphine (sulfate) to the patient at five o'clock on the afternoon of December 26, 1980, and wasted the other five milligrams, the wastage being witnessed by another licensed practical nurse, Ms. Grant. The December 26, 1980, patient progress notes for the patient, Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1, contain an entry reflecting administration of medication at five o'clock in the afternoon: [complaining] o[f] pain, medicated [with] M[orphine] S[ulfate] 10 mg IM . . . as stated by M. Denomme LPN." The entry is signed, "G. Grant LPN." The PRN medication administration record for this patient was signed by "G. Grant LPN" for the 3-to-11 shift on December 26, 1980. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. CHART NO. 667312 On December 17, 1980, Dr. Batson ordered morphine sulfate for this patient "1/4 to 1/6 IM q 34 PRN Pain." Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. At quarter of seven on the evening of December 17, 1980, respondent administered 15 milligrams of morphine sulfate to the patient, using one 10-milligram tubex and half of another, the wastage being witnessed by another licensed practical nurse, Ms. Grant, all according to the Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. "v. Robertson, GPN" signed the patient's PRN medication administration record for the 3-to-11 shift on December 17, 1980. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. The nurses' notes contain this entry for 6:45 (pm.): "c/o pain-Medicated E MS 15 mg IM as stated by V. Robertson GPN-G. Grant GPN." CHART NO. 67194-3 For this patient, Dr. Batson ordered, among other things, "Morphine gr 1/6-gr 1/4 IM q 3-4 h prn pain. or Demerol 50-75-100 mg q 3-4 h IM prn pain. Tylenol #3 po T-TT q 3-4 h prn pain" on December 17, 1980, the date of his admission to West Florida Hospital's orthopedic ward. At half past six on the evening of December 17, 1980, the patient was given two tablets of Tylenol #3. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. He got another two tablets of Tylenol #3 about noon the following day. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. On December 19, 1980, Randy Godwin, a licensed practical nurse at West Florida Hospital, signed a Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record indicating he had administered 15 milligrams of morphine to the patient at 6:20 p.m. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. Attached to this Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record is an interoffice memorandum to the hospital pharmacy from Cynthia Ayres, R.N., Assistant Director of Nursing. Ms. Ayres wrote, "I have met with Randy Godwin, LPN and discussed his specific narcotic errors. He was terminated from employment at WFH. I did not allow him to correct these errors." Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. There is no indication on this patient's PRN medication administration record that he was given any morphine on December 19, 1980. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. No administration of morphine on December 19, 1980, was charted in the patient's progress notes. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 1. Respondent administered 75 milligrams of Demerol, the entire contents of a tubex, to this patient at half past seven on the evening of December 19, 1980, according to a Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. (Count II) At nine o'clock that night, the patient was watching television, and had no complaint of pain. JANUARY 24, 1981 As she administered narcotics to patients during the 3-to-11 shift on January 24, 1981, respondent dropped waste paper and other debris in the narcotics drawer of the medication cart she had charge of. Toward the end of the shift, she was in the process of cleaning out the narcotics drawer when she felt something wet. Exclaiming something like, "Oh God, look at this," (T. 156; Testimony of Peat), she retrieved a cardboard container soaked to the point of disintegration with a solution of morphine sulfate, in the presence of Sandra Jean Peat, Randy Godwin, and other nurses who were in the medical room on the orthopedic floor at the time. Respondent recorded these events in an incident report and took the five-tubex plastic sleeve to the hospital pharmacy, about quarter of eleven. She asked the hospital pharmacist, James Thomas Allred, "to swap them out for five good ones." (T. 88.) At Mr. Allred's request, respondent prepared a second incident report in which she stated: When I was cleaning the Narcotics drawer, I picked up some of the packages and felt moisture on my hands. I then took the cartridges out of the PCK & found solution in bottom of Plastic Jacket. Two cartridges had the stopper out & 1 cartridge was broken. The tabs were intact as wit- nessed by R. Godwin LPN. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 3. After the wet plastic sleeve had been exchanged for a new one, respondent returned to the floor to catch up on charting. By this time, Randy Godwin had left the hospital. Mr. Allred jotted down his own contemporaneous account on the Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record: Replaced a packet of five morphine sulfate 15 mgs. for a packet of five returned by M. Denomme LPN. The packet returned had two syringes with their rubber plungers out. One of these two syringes was broken. All tabs were intact except for the broken syringe. The cart count will remain the same. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. When respondent noticed broken glass in the five-tubex plastic sleeve, after another nurse had seen the sleeve with all tabs intact but before respondent took it to the pharmacy, she opened a tab to fish out syringe shards. The evidence clearly and convincingly established that somebody tampered with more than one of the disposable syringes or tubexes inside the plastic sleeve. Although factory defects . . . do occur, this was not a case of defective manufacture; a needle had punctured the sleeve. As the medication nurse for the 3-to-11 shift, respondent had signed for the narcotics and controlled drugs in the medication cart and taken the keys at three o'clock on the afternoon of January 24, 1981. Petitioner's Exhibit No. When she counted narcotics, before assuming responsibility for them, respondent did not pick up each item. Looking down into the narcotics drawer, she would not necessarily have known whether the bottom of the cardboard container holding two plastic sleeves, each of which contained five 15-milligram tubexes of morphine sulfate, was wet. Respondent was the third person to sign the Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record as "oncoming nurse." Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. She had the keys to the medication cart during the entire 3-to-11 shift except when she went to supper or took a break. No patient on the orthopedic floor received any morphine sulfate during the whole 24-hour-period. CHART NO. 682231 Also on January 24, 1981, respondent administered two tablets of Tylenol #3 to this patient at 5:30 and another two tablets of Tylenol #3 at 9:35, according to a Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 2. This "patient had been medicated with Tylenol #3 since January 20th, and this medication had held her . . . for a period of at least four hours." (T. 55.) Respondent signed out for 75 milligrams of Demerol for this patient but wasted it, in the presence of Randy Godwin. Randy Godwin did not sign the Narcotics and Controlled Drug Administration Record as a witness, however. OTHER MATTERS There was absolutely no evidence that respondent acted strangely or as if under the influence of a controlled substance at any time between September, 1980, and February, 1981. No evidence was adduced regarding anything that happened on or about February 8, 1981. On or about January 30, 1981, Altha Steen Chandler, then a ward clerk on the 3-to-11 shift for the orthopedic floor, told Gail Price that, two weeks earlier, while cleaning in the conference room, she had knocked respondent's purse off a table; that the purse opened when it fell; and that she saw containers of codeine, Demerol, and Benadryl. On hearing this, Ms. Price promptly relayed it to Bonnie Ellen Ripstein, then departmental nursing supervisor over surgical floors. The truth of this allegation, repeated under oath at the hearing (T. 5), was not clearly and convincingly established, considering all the evidence. There was no proof that any codeine was ever missing or unaccounted for at West Florida Hospital at any time between September of 1980 and February of 1981. The only record keeping irregularity with which respondent has been charged regarding Demerol has to do with records kept on January 24, 1981, after the ward clerk claims to have seen a vial of Demerol in her purse. The substances themselves were not in evidence. Ms. Chandler's testimony about their packaging was contradictory: "The demerol and the codeine was in a plastic like container and had red writing on it. The benadryl was in a brown container, and it had yellow writing on it . . . . The benadryl was a glass vial, but the other two vials, seemed like they were plastic to me." (T. 16.) Respondent admits that she regularly carries a vial of Benadryl in her purse; she testified that she is allergic to bee stings. She denied that there was codeine or Demerol in her purse on or about January 16, 1981, and claimed to be allergic both to codeine and to Demerol. At some point,, Ms. Ripstein was given the assignment of auditing narcotics records with which respondent, Randy Godwin, Nancy Torch, and Debra Mann, now Rezzarday, had been involved. None of the four is now employed at West Florida Hospital. This audit turned up most of the charges made against respondent in these proceedings. STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS The nurses at West Florida Hospital were strongly encouraged to finish their duties before shift's end to avoid their employer's having to pay overtime wages. Once, when respondent stayed late to finish her charting, she was reprimanded even though she had clocked out. On the orthopedic floor, a nurse who was "caught up" with her work would chart for other nurses who were busy, indicating on the records that she was relying on oral representations of another nurse. This practice was against hospital policy and does not conform to minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing nursing practice. It is also a departure from minimal standards to waste a controlled substance like Demerol without a witness's signing the control sheet at the time the drug is wasted. It was not shown that any patient suffered any injury at respondent's hands or on her account. The written closing argument of respondent and petitioner's proposed recommended order have been considered in preparation of the foregoing findings of fact. Petitioner's proposed findings of fact have been adopted in substance, except where unsupported by clear and convincing evidence.
Recommendation Upon consideration of the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED: That petitioner suspend respondent's license for thirty days. DONE AND ENTERED this 28th day of June, 1982, in Tallahassee, Florida. ROBERT T. BENTON, II Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 28th day of June, 1982. COPIES FURNISHED: W. Douglas Moody, Jr., Esquire Samuel R. Shorstein, Secretary 119 North Monroe Street Department of Professional Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Regulation 130 North Monroe Street Allen W. Lindsay, Jr., Esquire Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Post Office Box 586 Milton, Florida 32570 Helen P. Keefe Executive Director Board of Nursing 111 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32202
