Failure to Properly Label Opened Insulin Pens
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s medication management practices when they observed that insulin pens for one resident were not properly labeled in accordance with professional standards and facility policy. During observation of the medication cart in the nurse’s room, one Lantus (long-acting insulin) flex pen for Resident 11 was found without any opened date or expiration date, and a second Lantus flex pen for the same resident had a date written on it that had smeared and was illegible. Licensed Nurse G confirmed that nurses are expected to label and date insulin flex pens with the date opened, and Administrative Nurse D also verified that nurses should label and date insulin flex pens when opened. The facility’s Medication Storage policy stated that medications and biologicals are to be stored safely, securely, and properly following manufacturer or supplier recommendations, and that medications are to be labeled for individual residents and stored appropriately. Medlineplus.gov guidance cited in the report stated that an open, unrefrigerated insulin pen can be used within 28 days and must be discarded after that time.
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