Medications Left Unattended at Bedside for Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
A resident with documented memory impairment and problems with decision-making, insight, logic, calculation, reasoning, planning, and judgment was found with a cup containing four pills on the bedside table during a morning observation. The resident stated he had not received his morning medications and was unaware of the pills on his bedside table, further indicating cognitive impairment. The resident also reported that staff sometimes leave his medications at the bedside for him to take later. The pills remained unattended for a period of time before being disposed of by a registered nurse, who confirmed that staff should not leave medications at the bedside and are required to observe residents consume their medications. The resident's care plan and order summary did not indicate that self-administration of medications was permitted. The facility's medication administration policy required staff to observe residents taking their medications.