Unattended and Unlocked Medication Cart Found on Hallway
Penalty
Summary
A medication cart was observed on the 200 Hall with the top drawer unlocked and unattended, allowing potential unauthorized access to medications. No staff were present in the immediate area at the time of observation. Facility policy requires all medications to be secured at all times, with medication carts locked when not in the direct possession of licensed staff, and controlled substances stored in a separately locked compartment. The unattended cart contained narcotics in a locked box, while other resident medications were accessible in the unlocked drawers. During an interview, a registered nurse confirmed she had left the cart unlocked while stepping into a resident's room, acknowledging that this could allow a resident to access medications not prescribed to them. The interim Director of Nursing also stated that her expectation is for all medication carts to remain locked at all times to prevent unauthorized access. The incident involved one medication cart and did not specify any particular resident's medical history or condition at the time.