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Safe Medication Practices in Focus: Addressing F761 in Nursing Homes

nurse examines a medication box, nursing home consultants

Medication management is one of the most critical components of care in a nursing home, and one of the most heavily scrutinized during surveys. F761:  Labeling and Storage of Drugs and Biologicals, exists to ensure that every medication administered is safe, effective, and handled properly. Yet, this F-tag is among the most commonly cited, often due to errors that occur in the rush of daily routines.

At Qsource, we help facilities move beyond compliance checklists to create medication systems that support accuracy, accountability, and resident safety.

 

What F761 Covers and Common Pitfalls

F761 requires facilities to:

  • Properly label medications with the name, strength, dosage, and expiration date
  • Store medications securely, at the appropriate temperature and conditions
  • Separate internal and external use medications
  • Safely dispose of expired, discontinued, or unusable medications
  • Prevent contamination, mix-ups, or unauthorized access

Frequent citations occur when:

  • Expired medications remain in carts or medication rooms
  • Multi-dose vials are improperly labeled or stored
  • Medications are stored with food or not secured
  • Topicals and orals are stored together without separation
  • Staff are unclear on disposal protocols

These are often preventable issues, not knowledge gaps, but process lapses that signal the need for consistent oversight and reinforcement.

 

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Why Medication Storage and Labeling Matters

Improper medication storage and labeling can lead to:

  • Resident harm due to outdated or improperly handled medications
  • Medication errors such as administering the wrong drug or dose
  • Survey citations with potential financial penalties
  • Legal and liability risks for the facility and staff
  • A breakdown in trust with families and care teams

Medications touch every corner of care. When they’re not managed properly, the consequences ripple far beyond the med cart.

Strengthening Medication Management Systems

Safe medication handling begins with clear protocols and continues with daily vigilance. Key elements of a strong system include:

Routine Label and Expiration Checks

  • Audits of carts, refrigerators, and storage areas
  • Monthly cleaning schedules with documentation
  • Documentation and removal of discontinued or outdated drugs

Storage Safety

  • Secure medication rooms and carts, with access only to authorized staff
  • Refrigeration logs and temperature monitoring
  • Separate areas for topicals, controlled substances, and internal vs. external meds

Disposal and Return Protocols

  • Policies for returning unused meds to pharmacy
  • Sharps and hazardous waste disposal tracking
  • Proper use of medication destruction logs and witness documentation

Staff Education and Accountability

  • Training on what surveyors look for and why it matters
  • Encouraging CNAs and nurses to report storage issues
  • Designating staff champions for med room upkeep and audits

How Qsource Helps Facilities Address F761

We understand that survey citations don’t always reflect a lack of caring, they often reveal systems that need strengthening. Qsource works with nursing homes to:

We help your team identify patterns, streamline practices, and support accountability, without increasing burden.

Medication Safety as a Culture, Not a Checklist

Addressing F761 isn’t about impressing surveyors, it’s about doing right by the residents in your care. When your team feels confident in medication procedures and your systems support their success, medication safety becomes second nature.

At Qsource, we help facilities build the habits, tools, and oversight they need to make medication management a point of pride — not a point of risk.

 

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