Inadequate Staff Training on Elopement Risks
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff were adequately in-serviced on the elopement binder, which is crucial for identifying residents at high risk for elopement. During a review of the Elopement Binder, it was found that several residents were identified as high risk for elopement. However, interviews with various Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) revealed a lack of awareness regarding which residents were at risk. CNA 1 was unaware of the residents at risk, while CNA 2 believed all residents were at risk. CNA 3 stated there was no way to know who was at risk without a meeting or in-service, and CNA 4 relied on word of mouth for this information. CNA 5 mentioned needing to ask other staff about the residents at risk. This indicates a significant gap in communication and training regarding elopement risks. The Administrator acknowledged that only 19 out of approximately 100 employees attended the last in-service training on elopement risk, which was deemed unacceptable. The facility's policy and procedure on elopements and wandering residents emphasized the need for a systematic approach to managing residents at risk, including adding interventions to care plans and communicating these to staff. Despite this policy, the lack of consistent training and communication led to staff being unaware of the elopement binder's existence or its contents, potentially compromising resident safety.
Penalty
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