What to Do When Medications Are Dropped
This guide explains what to do if a medication is accidentally dropped during administration. It helps DSPs, nurses, and program staff follow the right steps to keep everyone safe.
👥 Who This Is For
DSPs, nurses, program directors
📘 What You’ll Learn
How to safely respond when a medication is dropped, including what to document, when to notify the pharmacy, and how to protect individuals from missed doses.
Immediate Steps to Take
Do not give the dropped medication
Once a medication hits the floor or any unclean surface, it is considered contaminated and cannot be used.
Secure the area
Make sure the individual and any others nearby are safe and that no one picks up or ingests the dropped dose.
Document the situation clearly
Follow your agency’s procedure for documenting a medication error or missed dose. Include:
- Name of the individual
- Name and time of the medication
- What happened (e.g., “pill dropped on the floor while removing from blister pack”)
Check the MAR
Note the missed or dropped dose on the MAR using your agency’s documentation protocol (such as “Omitted–med dropped” or equivalent).
💡 Tip: Use standard documentation language to avoid confusion during audits.
Notify the Right People
Contact your nurse or on-call nurse
Let them know what was dropped and when. They will help determine if the dose should be replaced or skipped.
Notify the pharmacy if a replacement is needed
Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy can provide a same-day replacement dose in most cases if the medication is urgent or time-sensitive.
Report the incident as required
Your agency may require an internal incident report. Check your procedures.
When to Call Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy
- The medication is critical or cannot be skipped
- The nurse advises a replacement is needed
- The medication is a controlled substance
- You’re unsure what to do
Important Reminders
- Never guess or double a dose later to “make up” for a dropped med
- Controlled substances that are dropped must be documented and handled according to your agency’s waste protocol
- Always notify a nurse so they determine the next steps for the individual’s care
⚠️ Caution: Giving a dropped or compromised medication can cause harm and must be avoided.