Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Summary
The facility failed to use the services of a registered nurse (RN) for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week. Specifically, the facility did not provide RN coverage for 8 consecutive hours on four specific dates: 10/07/2023, 10/08/2023, 10/21/2023, and 10/22/2023. This deficiency was identified through record review of nursing staff information sheets and confirmed during interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator. The DON acknowledged the difficulty in securing RN coverage during those times and mentioned that she had been working weekends since March 2024 to ensure coverage. The Administrator, who was newly employed, was unaware of the lack of RN coverage in October 2023 but confirmed that RN coverage is a requirement for the facility. The absence of RN coverage on the specified dates left the facility without supervisory nursing staff for RN-specific activities and coordination of emergency care and disasters. The facility's policy requires 24-hour licensed nursing and an RN for eight consecutive hours daily, seven days a week. Additionally, the review of an article on appropriate nurse staffing levels highlighted the importance of sufficient nursing staff with appropriate competencies to ensure resident safety and well-being. The lack of RN coverage on the specified dates had the potential to affect residents by leaving staff without necessary supervisory support for critical nursing activities.
Penalty
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