Failure to Secure Medication and Treatment Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure all drugs and biologicals were stored securely in accordance with professional standards. Specifically, the nurse treatment cart was found unlocked, unattended, and unsupervised, containing various wound care medications such as miconazole antifungal powder, collagenase enzyme paste, hypochlorous acid solution, and other wound care products. Interviews with two LVNs confirmed that the cart was left unlocked, with one stating the keys were left by the nurse’s station and acknowledging that the cart should have been locked. The facility’s own policy requires all medications to be stored in locked compartments, but this was not followed in these instances. Additionally, a medication cart on the 400 hall was observed unlocked and unattended while a nurse was administering medications in a resident’s room. The nurse admitted the cart should have been locked when unattended. The Director of Nursing confirmed the expectation that medication carts be locked when not in use and acknowledged the risk if this protocol is not followed. These observations and staff interviews demonstrate a failure to adhere to the facility’s medication storage policy.