On routine patrol you find an unattended drug cart with the keys in the lock. You should first?

• A. Notify the Nursing Supervisor
• B. Document the incident
• C. Call security
• D. Remove the cart

Answer: (A)

The situation centers on medication security and the immediate need to control access and preserve accountability. The first action is to notify the Nursing Supervisor because they are the person responsible for medication handling, cart security, and incident response on the unit. They can quickly secure the cart, verify what meds were due or checked out, review access logs, and determine if any medications are missing. They’ll also decide whether security needs to be involved or if an incident report should be filed, and they can coordinate any further steps with pharmacy or administration.

Removing the cart yourself would bypass established procedures and could enable tampering or diversion, creating safety and liability issues. Calling security is appropriate if the supervisor cannot be reached or there is a suspicion of theft or an immediate threat, but it isn’t the first step. Documentation and follow-up can occur after the supervisor has intervened and the immediate risk is addressed.