Medication Cart Left Unlocked and Unattended Near Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
No penalty information released
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Summary
A medication cart located near the nurse's station was observed to be left unlocked and unattended by staff while a cognitively impaired and independently mobile resident was nearby. This incident occurred despite the facility's policy requiring that medication carts, rooms, and supplies be locked or attended at all times by authorized personnel. Interviews with a licensed nurse and an administrative nurse confirmed that the cart should always be locked when not attended. The facility census included 17 residents, and the policy in place emphasized the secure storage of medications and biologicals in accordance with professional standards.