Medications Left Unattended on Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) prepared medications for a resident and left the bubble packs containing the medications on top of the medication cart while stepping inside the resident's room. The medication cart was left unattended with the medications on top, making them accessible to others. This action was observed during a medication pass and was not in accordance with the facility's policy, which requires that no medications be left on top of the cart and that the cart be locked and secured when not in direct view of the nurse. The resident involved had a history of pneumonia and generalized muscle weakness and was assessed as cognitively intact but required varying levels of assistance with daily activities. Both the LVN and the assistant director of nursing (ADON) confirmed during interviews that medications should not be left unattended on top of the cart for safety reasons. Facility policies reviewed also specified that all drugs and biologicals must be stored securely and not left accessible on the cart.