Unattended and Unlocked Medication Carts and Improper Medication Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that staff did not ensure medication carts were locked when unattended and that medications were stored appropriately, as required by facility policy. On multiple occasions, an LPN left a medication cart unlocked and unattended while walking away to ask questions or administer medications. During these times, several residents were in the vicinity of the unattended cart. Additionally, medications were left on top of the unattended cart, including five medication cards and two bottles, without staff present to supervise them. Interviews with the LPN and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the medication cart should have been locked when not in direct view of the staff member administering medications, and that medications should not be left unsecured on top of the cart. These lapses in medication security were directly observed by surveyors and acknowledged by staff, indicating non-compliance with the facility's own medication administration and storage policies.