Lack of Staff Training and Competency in Managing Resident with Substance Use Disorder
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff were trained and competent to care for a resident with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The facility's own assessment identified that it serves residents with active or current SUDs and stated that staffing decisions would be informed by the need for appropriate competencies and skill sets. Despite this, staff interviews and record reviews revealed that no training on SUD had been provided to staff, including the Director of Staff Development, Social Service Director, Licensed Nurses, and Restorative Nursing Assistant. Staff consistently reported not knowing how to manage behaviors associated with SUD, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that no such training had occurred. The resident in question had a documented history of methamphetamine abuse, had been found with illegal drugs in his possession, and had tested positive for drugs during his stay. The resident exhibited frequent episodes of aggression, including yelling, swearing, and physical and verbal altercations with other residents and staff. Staff members expressed feeling unprepared and unsafe when dealing with these behaviors, and there was no documentation of SUD on the resident's admission record until it was later confirmed by the Medical Director. The lack of staff training and competency in managing SUD-related behaviors directly contributed to the ongoing behavioral incidents involving the resident.