Expired Medications Found in Medication Rooms and Cart
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to medication storage and control when expired medications were found in two of three medication rooms and one of seven medication carts reviewed. In the 300 hall medication room, a bottle of Jardiance 10 mg with an expiration date of 2/17/2026 was present; the nurse accompanying the surveyor confirmed the expiration date and stated that the unit manager was responsible for checking the medication room weekly for expired medications. The 300 hall Unit Manager, who had been employed at the facility for two months, reported she needed to confirm with the DON how often the medication room should be checked for expired medications. On Medication Cart #3, which was assigned to the same nurse, surveyors found a box of Ocusoft eye cleanser wipes with an expiration date of 10/2025; the nurse confirmed the expiration date and stated she checked her cart prior to each shift for expired medications and supplies but must have missed this item. In the 200 hall medication room refrigerator, surveyors found a box of Promethegan 12.5 mg suppositories with an expiration date of 1/2026; the nurse present confirmed the expiration date and stated that unit managers were responsible for weekly checks of medication rooms and that night shift nurses should check the medication room each night. The DON later stated that unit managers check medication expiration dates weekly in medication rooms and carts, nurses check their carts prior to each shift, and night shift nurses check for expired medications in medication rooms, and explained that medication expiration dates were checked because expired medications could lose effectiveness or become more potent over time.
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