Unattended and Unsecured Medication Carts
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to prevent accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision regarding the security of medication carts and medications on both the first and second floors. Facility policy requires that medication carts remain closed and locked when not in direct view of the nurse or aide, with no medications left on top and resident information kept secure. However, observations revealed multiple instances where medication carts were left unattended, unlocked, and with sensitive resident information visible on computer screens. On the second floor, a nurse left two medication carts unlocked and unattended, with one cart displaying the narcotic book and resident information, while the nurse was away administering pain medication to a resident. The nurse admitted to confusion about her assignment and confirmed both carts were left unsecured. Further observations on the second floor showed another nurse leaving a medication cart unlocked and unattended while administering medications to a resident in a nearby room. This nurse also confirmed that leaving the cart unsecured was not standard practice. On the first floor, a medication cart was found unlocked with resident information visible until a nurse returned to secure it. Staff interviews confirmed that leaving carts unlocked and resident information visible was not the facility's standard practice. These findings demonstrate a failure to follow facility policy and state regulations regarding medication security and resident information confidentiality.