Medication Carts Left Unlocked and Unattended
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all drugs and biologicals were stored securely, as required by policy and professional standards. During an observation, six medication carts located at the nurses' station were found unlocked with drawers facing outward toward the hallways, and no staff was present at the station. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that medication carts should be locked when not in use, regardless of their location, and staff were unable to explain why the carts were left unlocked. The facility's policy, revised in April 2019, specifies that all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, and nursing staff are responsible for maintaining secure medication storage areas. The surveyor's findings were based on direct observation, staff interviews, and a review of facility policy. Staff members, including LVNs and a CMA, acknowledged the expectation that medication carts remain locked when not in use, but could not provide a reason for the lapse. The Regional Nurse also confirmed that leaving medication carts unlocked, even at the nurses' station, was not acceptable and posed a risk. The surveyor did not determine which staff members were responsible for leaving the carts unsecured.