Failure to Provide Required Annual In-Service and Dementia Training for Nurse Aides
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nurse aides received the federally required minimum of 12 hours of in-service training annually, including specific training in dementia management. Review of facility documentation for the 2024-2025 period showed a lack of records confirming that nurse aides completed the required hours of in-service education, and there was no evidence that dementia management training was provided. Interviews with the Director of Nursing Services (DNS) and the Staff Development Nurse (RN) revealed that after the previous Staff Development Nurse left in August 2024, the position remained vacant for several months, and the responsibility for staff education was assumed by the DNS and RN. They acknowledged that they were unaware of the 12-hour annual in-service requirement and estimated that nurse aides had only completed approximately 8 hours of training in 2024. Additionally, dementia education was not provided in 2024 or up to the date of the survey in 2025. Facility policies require that all nurse aides receive regular, structured, and documented in-service education relevant to their roles, including dementia care and abuse prevention, but the facility did not maintain adequate documentation of completed training or competencies. The DNS and RN confirmed that while some mandatory annual education topics were covered, documentation was inconsistent, and dementia-specific training was overlooked. The lack of a dedicated staff development nurse and insufficient record-keeping contributed to the failure to meet regulatory requirements for nurse aide training and education.