Med cart organization

[RNMoxie]

Pre-survey and following state check is fast approaching. I have a nagging question about med carts in LTC facilities, specifically Florida. Is there an existing policy for how medications need to be organized in the cart? Should it be by room/bed number or name? I seen facilities that have a combination of the two as well, I.e. narc box by name and other non controlled drugs by room/bed. But there doesn’t seem to be a lot of uniformity in facilities so I’m wondering if this is due to the lack or noncompliance of policy or up to the facility or etc. Can anyone provide an answer to this or a link to a policy? I’ve scoured the internet and can’t find anything.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I'm not in Florida so I am sorry I can't offer specific advice. Every state will have requirements for med carts being locked and for controlled substances being double locked [in a separate locked drawer within the locked med cart]. Some states will even have a further requirement to secure/lock the entire med cart away from public areas like the hallway when not in use. Other than that I don't think they care how the med cart is organized.

Heck the LTC I worked in while the prescription meds were organized by room the OTC meds were organized differently on every cart depending on the preferences of the nurses that were regularly scheduled on that unit.