Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Summary
The facility failed to provide registered nurse (RN) coverage for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, as required. Specifically, there was no RN coverage on May 4, May 5, and May 11, 2024. This deficiency was identified through interviews and record reviews, which revealed that licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) were on duty during these days without the supervisory oversight of an RN. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that she was the only RN employed by the facility since May 1, 2024, and did not work on the days in question. The DON acknowledged the importance of having RN coverage for emergencies and RN-specific nursing activities, and stated that the facility was actively seeking weekend RN coverage. The facility's staffing sheets and CMS PBJ staffing reports further corroborated the lack of RN coverage on the specified dates and previous quarters. Interviews with LVNs working on the days without RN coverage highlighted their concerns about the absence of an RN for supervisory and emergency purposes. The DON and the facility administrator both confirmed the lack of RN coverage and acknowledged the potential risks to residents. The facility's policy on nursing services did not specify RN coverage requirements for weekends, which contributed to the oversight. Attempts to interview a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who worked on one of the days in question were unsuccessful. The facility did not provide staffing sheets for the requested dates of May 1 to May 10, 2024, further complicating the assessment of RN coverage compliance.
Penalty
Resources
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