Failure to Conduct Pre-Employment TB Screening for RN
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement pre-employment screening procedures for Tuberculosis (TB) for a newly hired Registered Nurse (RN), identified as Employee E2. The facility's TB infection control program policy, reviewed on January 3, 2024, mandates screening of employees for latent TB infection and active TB as appropriate. However, upon review of RN Employee E2's pre-employment health questionnaire dated August 19, 2024, it was found that the TB section was unanswered. Despite this, RN Employee E2 was hired on September 3, 2024, and began working without the required TB screening. The nurse deployment documents confirmed that RN Employee E2 was no longer on orientation by September 17, 2024, and continued to work at the facility. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed during an interview on January 10, 2025, that the facility did not conduct the necessary pre-employment TB screening for RN Employee E2 as required by their policy.
Plan Of Correction
Registered Nurse (E-2) has obtained a pre-employment screening test for Tuberculosis. The negative results are noted on the pre-employment health questionnaire. Human Resources and the In-service coordinator have been re-educated on the importance of securing a negative pre-employment screening test for Tuberculosis prior to the employees' first day at the facility. All new hire paperwork, including the pre-employment test for Tuberculosis, will be audited every two weeks for two months prior to orientation by the administrator or designee to ensure they have a recorded negative pre-employment screening for Tuberculosis. Any deficient practice will be immediately corrected. All data will be forwarded to the QAPI committee, and the need for additional monitoring will be determined by the committee.