Expired Insulin Pen Not Removed from Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when an opened multi-dose insulin glargine injector pen, which had expired according to manufacturer directions, was found in one of three medication carts during a medication storage and labeling review. The manufacturer's instructions specified that the insulin pen should be discarded 28 days after opening, regardless of any remaining insulin. During an observation of the 200-hall medication cart, an expired insulin glargine pen was found with a label indicating its discard date, but it had not been removed as required. Interviews with a nurse, the DON, and the Administrator confirmed that nursing staff were responsible for dating and discarding insulin pens after 28 days, as well as for checking and removing expired medications from the carts. However, the expired pen remained in the cart past its discard date, indicating a failure to follow established procedures for medication storage and removal.