Failure to Properly Label and Store Medications
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that medications and biologicals were not consistently labeled and stored according to accepted professional standards. In one instance, a resident was found with a medication cup containing four to five pills left unattended on the bedside table for approximately 30 minutes while the resident was sleeping. The resident had not been assessed for self-administration of medications, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that residents were not permitted to self-administer medications. This indicates that staff failed to ensure medications were administered directly to the resident and not left at the bedside. Additionally, during a review of a medication cart, a multi-dose inhaler (Fluticasone Propionate Inhalation Aerosol 220 MCG) was found open and not dated as required by facility policy and professional standards. The Registered Nurse acknowledged that all medications should be dated when opened and could not explain why this was not done. The Director of Nursing also confirmed that it was expected practice to date all multi-dose medications upon opening, but could not account for the lapse in this instance.