Unattended Lighter Left at Bedside in Violation of Smoking Policy
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a lighter was found unattended and unsecured on a resident's bedside table, despite facility policy prohibiting residents from keeping lighters or cigarettes in their rooms. The resident involved had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and nicotine dependence, and was assessed as requiring supervised smoking. The resident's care plan and risk assessments indicated that smoking should only occur in designated areas under supervision, and that the facility should monitor for unsafe smoking materials. During observations, the resident was seen smoking in the designated area while a green fluorescent lighter was left on the bedside table in his room, unattended. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding and enforcement of the facility's smoking policy. While some staff members stated that lighters should not be kept at the bedside and recognized the fire hazard, others, including the DON, indicated that residents were allowed to keep lighters and cigarettes at the bedside. The Activities Director confirmed that the facility had procedures for storing smoking materials in locked boxes and that staff were expected to check for contraband items. A review of the facility's smoking policy confirmed that residents assessed as safety risks were not permitted to keep lighters or cigarettes in their possession, and smoking was only allowed in designated outdoor areas under supervision. Despite these policies and the resident's care plan, the lighter was left unattended in the resident's room, creating a potential fire hazard and risk of injury.