Failure to Properly Label and Store Medications on Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure drugs and biologicals were labeled and stored according to professional standards for one resident and two medication carts. Specifically, an open and in-use bottle of Oxcarbazepine liquid, prescribed for a resident with epilepsy and a seizure disorder, was found on the Front Hall Nursing Cart without an open date, despite manufacturer instructions requiring use within seven weeks of opening. The resident's care plan and physician orders confirmed the ongoing use of this medication for seizure management. Staff interviews confirmed that multidose containers should be labeled with the date opened to track expiration, and that medications without an open date should not be used. Additionally, on the Station 1 Med Cart, an open bottle of Aspirin 325 mg was found with no visible expiration date, as the date had been rubbed off. Staff interviews revealed that nursing staff are expected to check carts daily for expired or inappropriately labeled medications, and that medications without legible expiration dates should not be used. The Director of Nursing confirmed that all medications must have expiration dates and that multidose containers must be dated when opened. Facility policy also requires medication labels to include expiration dates and appropriate instructions.