Medication Storage/tracking

[HeadingWest]

I just started as the nurse for a small DD agency (for both residential and day program). We have 60ish people coming to day program M-F and 35 in residential with a good deal of overlap between the two. My current concern is the storage and tracking of medications.

Right now we are only storing meds for 7-8 clients at a time (epi-pens/benadryl for a couple people with severe allergies, PRN inhalers, and a handful of controlled meds. I've put procedures into place to ensure that controlled meds are accounted for per state regs (2 signatures at the end of the shift), but I am looking for a storage solution to comply with the double locking needed for controlled meds (valium, ativan, and phenobarbital) and for general med storage.

Does anyone have suggestions for a cabinet/procedures to keep everything in order?

Edit: Also, suggestions for storage and tracking of expired and D/C meds (including the same controlled meds) would be appreciated.

[NayRN]

In a lockbox in a locked cabinet or locked room would solve your double locking problem. As far as regs for med disposal and tracking go, I'd check your state regs. for what they want.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Lockable Med storage boxes

Medication Storage for locking Drugs Narcotics in lockable boxes

You can get locking bed box that attaches to a cabinet at Wallmart---even a lock box/fire chest could be used behind a locked cabinet door:

Parent Units Child Safe Medicine Box

SentrySafe 1200 Fire Safe Chest