Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a registered nurse (RN) was on duty for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, as required. This deficiency was identified through a review of the facility's time sheets, which showed that on several occasions, the RN worked less than the mandated 8 hours. Specifically, on dates such as 04/07/24, 04/14/24, 04/20/24, 04/21/24, 06/01/24, 06/02/24, 06/29/24, and 06/30/24, the RN worked between 7.30 and 7.73 hours, failing to meet the required coverage. The facility's policy mandates 24-hour licensed nursing and an RN on duty for 8 consecutive hours daily, which was not adhered to on these occasions. Interviews with facility staff, including the VP of operations, ADON, DON, and the Administrator, revealed a lack of awareness and miscommunication regarding the RN's duty hours. The ADON acknowledged that the RN clocked out for lunch, resulting in less than 8 hours of work, and attributed this to a misunderstanding of the expected work hours. The DON expressed an expectation for the RN supervisor to be present for the full 8 hours and indicated that she would personally cover if the RN needed to leave. The Administrator also confirmed the expectation of 8-hour RN coverage daily. This failure to provide adequate RN coverage had the potential to leave staff without necessary supervisory support for RN-specific activities and coordination during emergencies.
Penalty
Resources
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