Failure to Discard Insulin Vials After 28 Days
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to discard multiple vials of Insulin 28 days after opening, as required by professional standards and facility policy. During an observation of a medication cart, several vials of Novolog, Lantus, and Aspart Insulin were found to be in use beyond the 28-day period indicated on their labels and stickers. The vials were partially full and had open dates that exceeded the allowed timeframe for use. The charge nurse responsible for administering medications admitted to not checking the dates on the Insulin vials prior to use and confirmed that she had administered Insulin from these expired vials recently. Interviews with nursing staff and the Director of Nursing Services (DNS) confirmed that the protocol required nurses to date Insulin vials upon opening and to discard them after 28 days. The DNS also stated that nurses should check expiration dates before each use. Despite these policies, the facility did not provide a specific policy on the length of time Insulin can be used after opening when requested. The failure to follow established procedures resulted in the use of expired Insulin for resident care.