Failure to Ensure Nurse Aide Competency and Adherence to Hand Hygiene During Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nurse aides demonstrated the necessary competencies and skills to provide individualized care, particularly regarding hand hygiene during incontinence care. Record reviews revealed that three nurse aides did not have documented evidence of skills or competency checks upon hire or at any time thereafter. Specifically, one nurse aide was observed not removing soiled gloves and not performing hand hygiene before applying a clean brief and touching other items in a resident's environment after providing incontinence care to a dependent resident. Additionally, the same nurse aide did not don a gown while providing urinary catheter care to a resident who required enhanced barrier precautions due to the presence of a urinary catheter. During an interview, the nurse aide stated she had not received any training from the facility regarding proper glove removal, hand hygiene, or the application of clean gloves after incontinence care. These findings were based on both employee file reviews and direct observation of care practices.