Good morning,

We have reviewed the updated Guidelines for the Safe use of Automated Dispensing Cabinets from the ISMP. One of the changes is recommending the nurse remove one medications for one patient at a time. We are transitioning from a process were we allowed nurses remove multiple patient's medications and store them in individual locking drawers (WOWs) to the one at a time process.

Has anyone else started to tackle this? Our questions are:
1) what is the nurse using to transport medications
2) what is the plan for storing medications when the nurse is in the middle of taking medications to a patient room and an emergency occurs (i.e. have to respond to bed alarm)

Thank you,
Carey Estes, MSN, RN, CPPS
Nursing Quality Manager, Medication Safety
Mission Hospital
Asheville, NC