Failure to Properly Label and Store Medications on Multiple Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to ensure drugs and biologicals were stored and labeled according to professional standards and facility policy across three medication carts. Specifically, opened insulin pens and inhalers were found without open dates or resident identifiers, and eye drops were present without proper labeling or identification. LPNs interviewed were unsure when the medications were opened, did not notice missing labels, and acknowledged that medications such as insulin pens and inhalers should have been labeled with open and expiration dates. Some medications were used despite the lack of labeling, and staff could not confirm whether the medications were expired or which resident they belonged to if packaging was separated. Facility policies required medications, including insulin pens, inhalers, and eye drops, to be dated when opened and labeled with resident information. However, observations revealed that these requirements were not consistently followed. Staff interviews indicated confusion about labeling requirements and expiration timeframes, and some staff deferred to policy or were unsure about specific procedures. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed expectations for labeling and organization but also expressed uncertainty about some labeling practices. The findings were observed on multiple units and involved several residents' medications.