Failure to Secure Medication Storage Areas and Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure secure storage of medications in accordance with its policies and professional standards. During observations, one medication storage room and its medication refrigerator at one nursing station were found unlocked and accessible without a key. The refrigerator contained injectable medications such as Ativan and Haldol, insulin pens, and an emergency kit, all of which were not secured with a padlock. A nurse reported that both the medication room and refrigerator were always unlocked and that he had never seen a padlock on the refrigerator. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and RN Supervisor confirmed that the facility's policy requires these areas to be locked and accessible only to licensed nurses, but this was not being followed. A second medication storage room at another nursing station was also found unlocked, with the medication refrigerator inside unsecured and containing residents' refrigerated medications. The ADON acknowledged the security issue and attributed it in part to new nurses receiving only online training. Review of the facility's policy and procedure confirmed that all medication storage areas, including refrigerators, must be locked when not in use and accessible only to authorized personnel. The ADON stated that the facility's policy and procedure was not followed in these instances.