Failure to Maintain Required RN Coverage
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the required registered nurse (RN) coverage for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, for 16 days during Quarter 2 of 2024. This deficiency was identified through a review of the Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) Staffing Data Report, which highlighted the absence of licensed nursing coverage on specific dates in January and February 2024. Interviews with facility staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and the Regional Compliance Nurse, confirmed the lack of RN coverage on these days. The ADON acknowledged that the facility had only one full-time RN and no Director of Nursing (DON) during this period, while the Regional Compliance Nurse, who was covering for the DON, did not work on the days in question. The facility's administrator explained that the staffing issues arose following a change in ownership, which led to the loss of staff, including the DON. Despite efforts to provide coverage with agency RNs and the Regional Compliance Nurse, the facility was unable to meet the required RN coverage. The facility's policy, revised in August 2006, mandates that the nursing services department be under the direct supervision of an RN at all times, with a DON employed to oversee operations during the day shift. However, this policy was not adhered to during the specified period, resulting in the deficiency.
Penalty
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