Failure to Provide Required Daily RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a registered nurse (RN) was on duty for at least eight consecutive hours each day, as required by both facility policy and regulatory standards. Review of the facility's RN Coverage Policy, last updated on 05/01/2024, confirmed the requirement for daily RN coverage. Examination of nursing schedules from October 2024 through early April 2025 revealed that RN coverage was consistently provided only on weekdays, with no RNs scheduled on weekends across multiple months. Specific dates were identified in each month where no RN was present for the required hours. During interviews, the Director of Nursing acknowledged awareness of the daily RN coverage requirement and confirmed the absence of RN coverage on weekends during the specified period. The Administrator stated a misunderstanding of the requirement, believing that any nurse, not specifically an RN, was sufficient for coverage. This lack of RN presence on weekends had the potential to affect all residents in the facility.