F0761

D

Unlocked Medication Cart and Unlabeled Medication on 300 Hall

Corpus Christi, Texas Survey Completed on 02-06-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency related to medication labeling and storage on the 300 Hall nurse medication cart. During an observation at the nurses' station, the 300 Hall med-cart was found parked and unlocked, with the cart lock popped out and all drawers accessible except the narcotic drawer. There were no staff present at the cart, and multiple residents were seated in the nearby open area. Additionally, an unlabeled and undated tube of Permethrin cream, a topical medication used to treat scabies, was found in the cart. The facility’s Storage of Medications policy stated that drugs and biologicals must be stored in their original packaging, containers with proper labels, and that drug containers with missing or improper labels must be returned to the pharmacy for proper labeling. The policy also required all compartments containing drugs and biologicals, including carts, to be locked when not in use.

In an interview, the LVN assigned to the 300 Hall med-cart acknowledged that the cart belonged to her and admitted she had not realized it was unlocked when she walked away briefly to get something. She stated she knew she was not supposed to leave the cart unlocked when away from it. The ADON reported that it was the responsibility of the nurse using the cart to check each shift for expired or unlabeled medications and confirmed that nurses were expected to lock their med-carts when they walked away. The DON similarly stated that nurses knew not to leave medication carts unlocked and that they had been in-serviced previously on locking carts and checking for expired or unlabeled medications. Despite these expectations and prior in-servicing, the cart was left unlocked and contained an unlabeled medication, in direct conflict with the facility’s written policy and accepted professional standards for medication storage and labeling.