Medications Left Unsecured at Bedside for Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that medications were securely stored for a resident with severely impaired cognition. The resident, who had diagnoses including sepsis, bacteremia, urinary tract infection, type II diabetes, and required assistance with personal care, was observed in bed with two pills left on the bedside table. Review of the medical record showed there were no physician orders permitting self-administration of medications for this resident. The resident stated that the nurse had left the pills for him to take. The Unit Manager confirmed that medications should not have been left at the bedside without a self-administration order, verifying that this action was not in accordance with facility policy or professional standards.