LPN Worked with Expired License Due to Lapse in Verification
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a licensed practical nurse (LPN) continued to work at the facility after her nursing license had expired. According to the Pennsylvania Code and the facility's own records, the LPN's license expired on June 30, 2024, but she continued to provide care from July 1, 2024, until a whole-house audit conducted on January 1, 2025, revealed the lapse. During this period, the LPN was not authorized to practice, as her license was not current, which is a violation of professional standards and state regulations. The facility failed to ensure that the LPN's license status was monitored and verified prior to allowing her to work. The lapse was only discovered through an internal audit, not through routine verification processes. No care concerns or adverse outcomes related to resident care were identified during the time the LPN worked with an expired license. The deficiency was cited as past non-compliance with professional standards of quality as required by federal and state regulations.