Medication Cart Left Unlocked and Unattended
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when drugs and biologicals were not stored and labeled in accordance with accepted professional principles. Specifically, one of the medication carts serving the 1 and 2 hallways was observed to be left unlocked and unattended by an LVN. The cart was positioned against the nurse's station and was accessible until the surveyor notified the LVN, who then secured it by locking the cart. The LVN acknowledged responsibility for the cart and stated she was expected to lock it whenever she walked away, but had left it unlocked to answer a call. Further interviews with the DON confirmed that multiple staff, including the DON and ADON, were responsible for ensuring medication carts were locked. The DON reiterated the expectation that staff must lock the cart when leaving it unattended. Facility policy reviewed by the surveyor also required that medications for residents who do not self-administer be stored in a locked cabinet, such as a medication cart, with access limited to authorized personnel.