Misappropriation of Resident Medications by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A staff member failed to prevent the misappropriation of a resident's medications. The resident, who had diagnoses including Schizoaffective Disorder, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Drug Induced Subacute Dyskinesia, was prescribed Cyclobenzaprine 10mg three times daily for muscle spasms. After the resident was discharged against medical advice, two medication cards containing Cyclobenzaprine with the resident's name were later found in the possession of a nurse who had access to medications during night shifts. The nurse was subsequently arrested for an unrelated domestic charge, during which the medications were discovered. Facility staff confirmed that medications for discharged residents are typically returned to the pharmacy, except for narcotics, which are destroyed. However, in this case, the medications were not properly handled and were instead found outside the facility. Photographic evidence provided by the nurse's significant other showed the medication cards, one of which was full and the other partially used. The facility's abuse policy prohibits misappropriation of resident property, including medications, but this policy was not followed in this instance.