Failure to Secure Medications in Locked Storage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that drugs and biologicals were stored in locked compartments and only accessible to authorized personnel, as required by professional standards and facility policy. During observations, it was found that two residents' prescribed Flonase nasal sprays were left unsecured, either on bedside tables or in dresser drawers within their rooms, rather than being stored in the medication cart. Both residents did not have physician orders permitting self-administration or keeping medications at the bedside. One resident, who was cognitively intact but required moderate assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), had her Flonase left on her bedside table and later stored in her dresser drawer by nursing staff. The resident reported that the nurse would leave the medication at her bedside and sometimes place it in the drawer. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the medication should have been locked in the medication cart, as there was no order for self-medication or bedside storage. Nursing staff admitted to assuming the resident could self-medicate without verifying orders and acknowledged being trained not to leave medications unsecured. A second resident, who was severely cognitively impaired and required extensive assistance with ADLs, also had her prescribed Flonase left on her bedside table and later stored in her dresser drawer. Similar to the first case, the DON confirmed that the medication should have been secured in the medication cart. Nursing staff again reported assuming the resident could self-medicate without checking for proper orders and placed the medication in the dresser drawer to keep it out of sight. Facility policy required all drugs and biologicals to be stored safely and securely, which was not followed in these instances.