Improper Storage of Medications at Bedside
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when nursing staff failed to store drugs and biologicals in locked compartments as required by professional standards and facility policy. During observation, two normal saline flush syringes were found at a resident's bedside—one unopened and one partially used—rather than being secured in a locked area. The resident involved had multiple complex medical conditions, including paraplegia, chronic respiratory failure, and a gastrostomy, and was receiving IV antibiotics and midline IV therapy. The facility's policy and staff interviews confirmed that normal saline flushes are considered medications and should not be left at the bedside. The incident was confirmed through observation, interviews with the LVN and DON, and review of the resident's medical records and care plan. Both the LVN and DON acknowledged that leaving normal saline flushes at the bedside was not in accordance with facility policy or accepted medication storage practices. The facility's policy requires all drugs and biologicals to be stored securely and locked when not in use, and the failure to do so was identified as a deficiency during the survey.