Medication Carts Left Unlocked and Unattended
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that two medication carts, identified as Medication Cart 1 and Medication Cart 2, were left open and unattended in Nurses' Station 2. This observation was made during a concurrent interview with the Director of Nursing (DON), who confirmed that both carts were open and acknowledged that all medication carts should be locked when staff are out of sight. The DON stated that locking the carts is necessary for resident safety, as unlocked carts could allow unauthorized access to medications. A review of the facility's Policy and Procedures (P&P) titled 'Security of Medication Carts,' last reviewed on 9/27/2024, indicated that medication carts must be securely locked at all times when out of the nurse's view. The failure to lock the medication carts when unattended was identified as a deficient practice, as it had the potential to allow residents or unauthorized personnel access to the medications stored within the carts.