Medication Management Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all medication labels were legible and that expired medications were disposed of appropriately. During an audit of a medication cart, two boxes of expired glucagon injection syringes were found, which were confirmed by a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) to be expired. Additionally, in the medication storage rooms on two different halls, expired pneumococcal vaccines, sodium chloride inhalation solution, and a bottle of Ketamine were discovered. A medication bottle in the locked narcotic box had an unreadable label, making it impossible to determine its contents or ownership. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of knowledge and responsibility regarding the auditing and removal of expired medications. A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) admitted to not knowing the process for handling expired and discontinued medications, while a unit manager was unaware of who was responsible for auditing medication rooms. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that night staff usually checks for expired medications and that the pharmacy picks up expired items monthly. However, the presence of expired medications and unreadable labels indicates a failure in the facility's medication management processes.