Unattended and Unlocked Medication Carts Observed on Two Units
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple instances where medication carts were left unattended and unlocked in hallways outside resident rooms on two separate units. On one occasion, a medication cart was left unlocked for over an hour, with a resident sitting nearby and various staff, residents, and a family member passing by. The responsible RN returned and was unable to confirm whether the cart had been locked, admitting to possibly forgetting due to a long day. The RN acknowledged the importance of keeping the cart locked, especially since it contained medications and narcotics. On another unit, a medication cart was also found unattended and unlocked on two separate occasions. The responsible RN admitted to leaving the cart unlocked when distracted by assisting an aide and again when entering a resident room. Both RNs confirmed that the carts should have been locked when unattended. The DON verified that the facility's expectation is for medication carts to be locked when not attended, as per facility policy, and acknowledged that leaving them unlocked is a safety concern.