State Findings:
Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure drugs and biologicals were labeled and stored in accordance with accepted professional standards, in one of three medication carts and one of two medication storage rooms.
Specifically, the facility:
-Failed to date insulins when opened;
-Failed to discard an expired glucagon emergency kit;
-Failed to date an Advair diskus inhaler when opened;
-Failed to date tuberculin when opened; and,
-Failed to discard expired insulins.
The medication cart for the 700 hall was observed on 4/26/22 at 9:22 a.m.:
-An Advair diskus opened without a date;
-A Humalog insulin vial with the open date of 3/3/22;
-A Novolog 70/30 vial with an open date of 3/15/22;
-Two Lantus vials with no open date;
-A Humulin N vial with no open date;
-A pen of Glargine insulin with no open date; and,
-An expired Glucagon Emergency kit (expiration date of 12/2021).
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) #1 was interviewed on 4/26/22 at 9:22 a.m. She said she did not know the [NAME] had not been dated. She said she was not aware there were expired vials in the cart. She said she was not aware the Advair diskus had a short shelf life once opened from the foil pouch. She said she was not aware the glucagon emergency kit was expired. She said she would notify the unit manager of the medications found. She said the medications that were expired should have been discarded and the other medications should have been dated to ensure the medications were still effective. She discarded the medications.
The medication room on the rehabilitation unit was observed on 4/27/22 at 9:08 a.m. The room had an opened vial of tuberculin with no open date.
LPN #2 was interviewed on 4/27/22 at 9:08 a.m. She said the vial should have been open when dated to ensure efficacy of the medication. She discarded the vial.
The director of nursing (DON) was interviewed on 4/27/22 at 10:48 a.m. She said she was surprised there were that many concerns with the medications. She said every Monday all the carts were to be checked for expired medications and medications not dated. She said it was important to date medications and discard expired medications to ensure efficacy of the medication. She said education will be completed to all the nurses.
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If you have or had a loved one living in this nursing home or any other nursing home where you suspect any form of abuse or neglect, contact us immediately.
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