Failure to Appoint Qualified Infection Preventionist with Required Training
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to hire a qualified Infection Preventionist (IP) in accordance with its own policy and regulatory requirements. The IP, an LPN, assumed the role over four months prior to the survey but had not completed the required specialized infection prevention training at the time of the survey. The IP only began the mandatory training several months after starting the position, completing a portion of the required modules online, but had not finished the full curriculum. The delay in obtaining the necessary training was attributed to a misunderstanding about the training format and the demands of the position. Review of the facility's job description for the Infection Preventionist Nurse revealed that the position required a current RN license, two years of professional nursing experience in LTC, and at least three years in nursing administration or a comparable management role with infection control training and APIC interaction. The IP in the role did not meet these qualifications, as she was an LPN and had not completed the required training. The Director of Nursing Service (DNS), who oversaw the IP, held an infection prevention certificate but was not the designated IP according to facility policy.