Unattended and Unlocked Medication Cart
Penalty
Summary
A nurse failed to ensure that the medication cart on the 200 Hall was locked when left unattended. During an early morning observation, the medication cart was found in the hallway outside an open resident room, visibly unlocked and unattended. The cart contained various medications labeled for residents, including over-the-counter drugs, while controlled substances were secured within a separate locked compartment inside the cart. The nurse assigned to the cart stated she was called away and forgot to lock it, acknowledging that facility protocol requires the cart to be locked when unattended to prevent unauthorized access. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the assigned nurse or medication aide is responsible for securing the cart and restricting access to authorized personnel only.