Failure to Securely Store Medications and Biologicals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that drugs and biologicals were not stored in accordance with accepted professional principles in three of five units. In one instance, a resident had two vials of Budesonide Inhalation Suspension left on their nightstand by nursing staff after refusing treatment, despite not having an order or evaluation for self-administration. The resident confirmed that the medication was left by the nurse, and both the LPN and DON acknowledged that there was no self-administration order or evaluation, and that medications should not be left unattended in resident rooms. In another case, a resident had prescription anti-itch cream and a cup with five pills left on their overbed table. The resident stated that the nurse left the medications because she was on the phone and did not want to take them at that time. The RN confirmed leaving the medications in the room and identified the medications. There was no evaluation or order for self-administration for this resident. Additionally, in the memory care unit, a pain-relieving gel was found in an unlocked cabinet accessible to residents. The Certified Dietary Manager and DON both confirmed that medications should be stored in locked areas and not accessible to residents. Facility policy requires all medications to be stored securely.