Improper Medication Storage and Labeling Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper storage and labeling of drugs and biologicals as required. During observations, the medication refrigerator in the medication room was found unlocked and not padlocked, despite containing an emergency kit with medications. Both the Administrator and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the refrigerator should have been secured to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, the medication room's dry storage temperature log was missing required entries for two consecutive days, and the Director of Nursing acknowledged that this log should be completed by a licensed nurse to ensure temperature requirements are met. Further observations revealed that the medication room refrigerator, labeled for medication use only, contained non-medication food items such as olives, marmalade, honey, and vinaigrette, none of which were labeled with names or dates. The Director of Nursing was unaware of the origin of these items and stated that food items should be labeled, covered, and dated. Additionally, a staff member's clothing item was found hanging on the medication room door, which the Administrator stated was inappropriate for the medication room. The facility's own policy requires medication rooms and supplies to remain locked, temperature logs to be maintained, and food items to be properly segregated and labeled.