Staff Performed Clinical Duties After Consuming Alcohol
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff, including the previous administrator, assistant director of nursing (ADON), and a restorative certified nursing assistant (CNA), admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages a few hours before entering the facility. On the evening in question, these staff members attended a local bar/restaurant, where more than one drink was consumed by some of them. Later that night, they entered the facility and performed work-related duties, including conducting skills checks with staff and assisting with medication management. Multiple witness statements and employee corrective action forms confirm that these staff members were present in the facility after drinking alcohol. Observations included glassy eyes, rosy faces, and hyperactive behavior from the restorative CNA, as well as similar physical signs in the ADON. The staff members interacted with other employees, observed resident care, and participated in clinical activities while under the influence of alcohol. No direct harm to residents was reported, but the conduct was noted as a violation of professional standards and facility policy. The incident had the potential to affect all 54 residents residing in the facility, as documented in the facility's resident matrix. The facility's assessment outlines the necessary resources and staff roles required to provide competent care, which were compromised by the actions of the involved staff members. The deficiency centers on the failure to maintain a professional standard of conduct by allowing staff to work under the influence of alcohol while performing duties within the facility.