Deficiency in Nurse Aide Performance Reviews and In-Service Training
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that each nurse aide received a performance review at least once every 12 months and regular in-service education based on the outcomes of these reviews. This deficiency was observed on the 5th Floor of the facility, where 6 out of 6 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) personnel files lacked evidence of performance evaluations and in-service training based on evaluation results. The facility's assessment documented that staff were expected to have competencies in various areas, including abuse, resident rights, and dementia care, but there was no documented evidence that these competencies were part of the orientation or annual in-service package. The facility's survey report indicated that each nurse aide was required to receive 6 hours of paid in-service training every 6 months, but the review of personnel records showed no evidence of the required 12-hour annual in-service training. Additionally, the facility did not include behavioral health care and management in the list of in-service topics provided to staff. The Human Resources Director acknowledged communication issues between Human Resources and the Nursing Department, which affected the handling of disciplinary actions and performance evaluations. The facility also lacked an Inservice Educator, as the position was absorbed into the Director of Nursing's responsibilities. Interviews with the Director of Nursing and the Assistant Director of Nursing revealed inconsistencies in conducting competency evaluations and in-service training for nursing staff. The Director of Nursing admitted that the system for ensuring competency evaluations was inadequate, and the Assistant Director of Nursing stated that they only conducted evaluations related to specific incidents or complaints. The Administrator was unsure if competencies and performance evaluations were being performed as required, indicating a lack of oversight and accountability in the facility's processes for maintaining staff competencies.
Penalty
Resources
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The facility failed to complete annual performance evaluations for three nurse aides. Personnel record review showed each aide was hired on 7/1/23, and none of the three files contained the required yearly performance evaluation. The NHA confirmed the missing evaluations during interview.
The facility failed to complete annual performance reviews for three nurse aides reviewed. Record review showed the aides did not have current annual performance reviews in their personnel files, and the NHA confirmed the omission during interview.
A CNA involved in an abuse allegation did not have an annual PE on file, even though the facility's handbook said employees may be reviewed about once per year and the PE should be based on job performance and duties. The CNA was hired in 2024, but the DSD and VPHR could not locate the required evaluation during record review. The case involved a resident with HTN, anxiety, and adult failure to thrive who had severely impaired cognition and no decision-making capacity; an SBAR and IDT note documented an allegation that the CNA tapped the resident on the lips and acted aggressively during care, which the CNA denied.
Missed Annual CNA Performance Reviews: The facility failed to complete required annual performance reviews for 5 CNAs. HR stated reviews were delayed while the union worked on new wage rates and that prior reviews could not be located. The DON stated annual reviews were expected and many were overdue.
A facility failed to complete an annual performance evaluation for a CNA whose file showed the last evaluation was in 2012. The CNA was linked to a resident complaint of being smacked on the hand and a family member’s complaint about the CNA’s care. One resident had hemiplegia, hemiparesis, osteoarthritis, and depression and needed extensive ADL assistance, while another resident had dementia, hepatic failure, spinal stenosis, and severe cognitive impairment with dependence for all ADLs.
Missing Annual CNA Performance Reviews: The facility did not complete yearly performance reviews for 5 of 5 CNAs reviewed. Record review showed each CNA lacked a performance evaluation within the past 12 months, and the NHA acknowledged that the annual reviews were not completed.
Missing Annual Performance Evaluations for Nurse Aides
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete annual performance evaluations at least once every 12 months for three of three nurse aide personnel records, including NA Employee E23, NA Employee E24, and NA Employee E25. Review of each personnel file showed a date of hire of 7/1/23, and each record lacked an annual performance evaluation at least every 12 months as required. During an interview on 8/4/26 at 1:55 p.m., the Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the facility failed to complete the required annual performance evaluations for all three nurse aides.
Missing Annual Performance Reviews for Nurse Aides
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete annual performance reviews at least once every 12 months for three of three nurse aides reviewed: Employee E13, Employee E14, and Employee E15. Review of facility documentation and employee personnel files showed that these nurse aides did not have completed, up-to-date annual performance reviews. During an interview on July 30, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., the Nursing Home Administrator, Employee E1, confirmed that the facility had failed to complete annual performance reviews for Employees E13, E14, and E15. The cited regulatory references were 28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) and 28 Pa. Code 201.19(2).
Missing Annual Performance Evaluation for CNA Involved in Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that one sampled CNA involved in an allegation of staff-to-resident abuse received a performance evaluation at least once every 12 months, as required by the facility's Employee Handbook. The deficiency involved CNA 1, who was hired on 8/27/2024 and whose annual performance evaluation should have been completed in 8/2025, but could not be found in the employee personnel file, HR records, or by the DSD and VPHR during the survey review. Resident 1 was admitted to the facility with diagnoses including HTN, anxiety disorder, and adult failure to thrive. The resident's MDS dated 6/11/2026 indicated severely impaired cognitive skills for daily decision making and the need for substantial/maximal assistance with ADLs. A later H&P dated 7/19/2026 stated the resident did not have decision-making capacity. On 7/22/2026, an SBAR documented an allegation that a student reportedly saw CNA 1 tap Resident 1 on the lips after the resident used profanity during care, and that CNA 1 acted aggressively toward the resident. The IDT conference dated 7/23/2026 documented an allegation of physical abuse and noted the resident had no injuries or signs of distress. During interview, CNA 1 denied touching or tapping the resident's mouth, denied being rough or aggressive, and denied grabbing the resident by the neck during transfer. The DSD, VPHR, and DON all confirmed that no performance evaluation for CNA 1 could be located and stated that annual evaluations were expected based on the employee's hire date and were intended to review performance and areas for improvement.
Missed Annual CNA Performance Reviews
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to conduct annual performance reviews for 5 of 5 CNAs identified in the report: Staff M, Staff N, Staff O, Staff P, and Staff Q. The facility’s staff list showed that Staff M, Staff N, Staff O, Staff P, and Staff Q had been hired 22 months, 16 months, 63 months, 23 months, and 23 months before survey, respectively. No documentation was provided to show performance reviews were completed for Staff M, Staff N, Staff O, or Staff P. Staff Q had one Employee Performance Review dated 11/27/2025, which was 15 months after hire, and no other performance review documentation was provided. During interview, Human Resources stated the facility was waiting to complete annual performance reviews because the employee union was still working on new wage rates, and that performance reviews were required every 12 months but had not been done because employees wanted to know how the reviews would affect their wages. The Human Resources staff also stated they could not locate prior performance reviews for the listed staff. The DON stated that annual performance reviews were expected and that many were overdue.
Missing Annual Performance Evaluation for CNA with Resident Complaints
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete an annual performance evaluation for CNA 6, whose personnel file showed the last documented performance evaluation was in 2012. The facility’s policy titled Performance Evaluations, revised 2/2026, stated that the job performance of every employee was to be reviewed and evaluated at least annually. During interview, the Interim DON confirmed the missing evaluation and stated that performance evaluations were important to identify what staff were lacking and what areas of improvement needed to be addressed. The deficiency involved CNA 6 while there were resident complaints and allegations involving that aide. Resident 8’s record showed a readmission with diagnoses including hemiplegia, hemiparesis following cerebral infarct, osteoarthritis, and depression, and the MDS indicated the resident could make herself understood and understand but needed supervision with eating and was dependent on staff for oral hygiene, toileting hygiene, dressing, showering, and personal hygiene. Resident 8 reported in an SBAR form that CNA 6 smacked her on the right hand, and later stated the aide smacked her and pointed to her right wrist. In addition, Resident 11’s family member stated they did not want CNA 6 to care for Resident 11 and was unsatisfied with CNA 6’s work; Resident 11’s record showed diagnoses including hepatic failure, lumbar spinal stenosis, dementia, and cataract, and the MDS indicated severely impaired cognition and dependence for all ADLs.
Missing Annual CNA Performance Reviews
Penalty
Summary
The facility did not complete performance reviews for CNAs at least every 12 months for 5 of 5 CNAs reviewed: CNA3, CNA4, CNA5, CNA6, and CNA7. The facility’s policy, Job Descriptions and Performance Evaluations, dated 9/20, states that performance evaluations measure standards against job performance and are intended to aid management in analyzing and improving the facility’s services and structure and to improve the quality of work performance. Record review showed CNA3, hired 2/16/25, did not have a yearly performance review completed in the last 12 months; CNA4, hired 9/21/09, did not have a yearly performance review completed in the last 12 months; CNA5, hired 5/23/25, did not have a yearly performance review completed in the last 12 months; CNA6, hired 1/13/20, did not have a yearly performance review completed in the last 12 months; and CNA7, hired 12/31/97, did not have a yearly performance review completed in the last 12 months. On 7/27/26 at 12:40 PM, the NHA stated the facility did not have yearly performance reviews for the CNAs and acknowledged that the reviews should have been completed.
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