Failure to Secure Smoking Materials and Obtain Smoking Agreements
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its own smoking policy and procedures for two residents who were identified as smokers. Both residents were observed keeping cigarettes and lighters in their personal possession or in their room, rather than having these items stored at the nurse's station as required by facility policy. Interviews with the residents confirmed that they kept their smoking materials either on their person or in a nightstand drawer, and direct observation by surveyors corroborated these statements. Additionally, staff confirmed that the smoking supplies were not at the nurse's station and acknowledged that they should have been kept there. Further review revealed that neither resident had signed a smoking agreement upon admission, despite the facility's policy requiring such agreements as part of the admission process and whenever a resident's smoking status changes. The administrator confirmed that the smoking agreement form was added when the policy was revised, but it had not yet been implemented for the current smokers. Both residents had care plans and assessments indicating their smoking status and the need for their smoking materials to be stored securely, but these procedures were not followed in practice.