F0761

D

Unlabeled Insulin and Acetaminophen Left Unsecured at Bedside

Des Plaines, Illinois Survey Completed on 03-05-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to ensure medications were safely stored and properly labeled for one resident. During an observation at 11:00 AM, two insulin pens (Lantus and Lispro) and a bottle of acetaminophen 325 mg were observed sitting on top of the resident’s bedside table. The insulin pens and acetaminophen bottle were not labeled with any resident identification, date opened, or discard date. The resident stated that staff were aware that these medications were kept at the bedside. A review of the resident’s admission record showed diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications and active orders for acetaminophen 325 mg by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain, Humalog KwikPen 8 units subcutaneously before meals, and Lantus 30 units subcutaneously at bedtime.

At 11:20 AM, a registered nurse (V5) stated that medications should not be left at the bedside and should be labeled with the resident’s name, date opened, and discard date. At 11:23 AM, the assistant director of nursing (V3) similarly stated that medications should not be stored at the bedside and that medications should include clear labeling. Review of the facility’s “Self-Administration & Medication Storage Policy” (effective February 2014) showed that when medications are stored in a resident’s room, all medications, both legend and over-the-counter, must be stored in a locked storage unit, and all medications/biologicals stored in the resident’s room should be written on the MAR as “may keep at bedside.” These observations and statements demonstrated that the medications at the resident’s bedside were not stored in locked compartments and were not labeled in accordance with facility policy and accepted professional principles.