Failure to Timely Report Resident Allegation of Theft
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) failed to report a resident's allegation of theft in a timely manner, contrary to facility policy. The resident, a cognitively intact female with a BIMS score of 14, reported that $50.00 was stolen from her wallet after she left her purse unattended in her room. She stated that she had previously experienced theft and therefore usually kept her purse with her, but on this occasion, she did not. The CNA, who was assigned to the resident at times, was told by the resident about the missing money but did not report the allegation to management, believing it was unlikely to have occurred. The facility's policy requires immediate reporting of any allegations of abuse, including misappropriation of property, to the administrator or abuse coordinator. However, management and nursing leadership were not made aware of the incident until the CNA reported it much later. The delay in reporting prevented prompt investigation and response as required by facility policy and federal guidelines. The resident expressed distress over the loss, noting the financial impact and her lack of outside support.