F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
F

Failure to Maintain Required RN Staffing Levels

Southern Inyo Hospital D/p SnfLone Pine, California Survey Completed on 07-12-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that a Registered Nurse (RN) was available onsite for at least eight hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1, 2024, through July 11, 2024. During this period, there were 17 days when no RN was onsite, and on three days, the RN hours were less than the required eight hours. This deficiency was identified through observations, interviews, and record reviews. On July 11, 2024, it was observed that no RN was working in the unit between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and the Director of Human Resources (DHR) confirmed the absence of an RN on that day and the facility's awareness of the staffing policy. Further record reviews revealed multiple instances of non-compliance with the RN staffing requirement across several months. In April 2024, there were no RN hours on six specific days, and one day had reduced hours. In May 2024, there were six days without RN coverage and two days with reduced hours. In June 2024, three days lacked RN presence, and in July 2024, two days were identified without RN coverage. The facility's policy, dated July 9, 2020, mandates RN presence for at least eight consecutive hours daily, which was not adhered to during the specified period.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0727 citations
RN Coverage Not Maintained
F
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

The facility failed to ensure RN coverage for at least 8 consecutive hours on 3 of 46 days reviewed. Review of the Direct Care Staff Daily Reports showed no required RN coverage on three dates, and the Administrator acknowledged the missing coverage.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
No Full-Time RN Director of Nursing
F
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

No full-time RN DON was designated in the facility. Staff, including an RN, an LPN, the ADON, and the Administrator, stated there was no current DON, and the Regional Nurses were not at the facility full time because they covered multiple facilities. The facility had 55 residents, all requiring skilled nursing services.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
RN Coverage Not Maintained
F
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

The facility failed to maintain RN coverage for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week. Review of the nursing schedule and staff time punches showed no RN present in the facility, and the Administrator confirmed he could not provide evidence that an RN worked the required 8 hours. The deficiency had the potential to affect all 95 residents.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
RN Coverage Not Maintained on Scheduled Shifts
E
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

RN Coverage Not Maintained on Scheduled Shifts: The facility failed to ensure an RN was present for 8 consecutive hours each day. Review of schedules and timecards showed LPNs covered the shifts on two dates when no RN was scheduled, and staff interviews confirmed the facility had difficulty hiring nurses and relied on last-minute coverage. The facility reported a census of 49 residents on one date and 50 residents on another, including 3 residents receiving Medicare skilled services.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
RN Coverage Not Provided for Required Daily Hours
F
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

RN Coverage Not Provided for Required Daily Hours: The facility failed to provide an RN for 8 consecutive hours per day, 7 days per week. The only RN on duty worked only a few hours on two days, and staff confirmed no agency RNs were used that weekend. Staff also stated there was no staffing policy and that the facility followed state regulations for staffing. The facility census documented 121 residents.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Missed RN Coverage on Weekend Shifts
F
F0727 F727: Have a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
Short Summary

The facility failed to maintain RN coverage for at least 8 consecutive hours per day, 7 days a week. Record review showed no RN coverage on two weekend days, and the DON stated the usual weekend RN was on vacation and she could not cover those shifts. The Administrator stated the facility had no policy for RN coverage and deferred to HHSC regulations.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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