CMAs Administered Medications Without Required Competency and Gave Narcotics
Penalty
Summary
Certified Medication Aides (CMAs) at the facility were permitted to administer medications, including narcotics, without having completed the required skills competency check-offs. Review of facility records showed that six out of seven active CMAs did not have current, signed, and dated annual competency documentation. Additionally, one CMA's skills checklist specifically indicated that she was not certified to administer narcotic medications, yet records showed that she had administered a narcotic medication to a resident. Staff interviews confirmed that CMAs were administering narcotics, and some staff members, including a Registered Nurse, admitted to giving narcotics to CMAs to administer to residents. Multiple facility staff, including the Regional Consultant Nurse, Interim Director of Nursing, Operations Consultant, Medical Director, and Nurse Practitioner, were unaware that CMAs were administering narcotics or controlled substances. The facility's own policy and staff statements indicated that CMAs were not supposed to administer narcotics, yet this practice was occurring. The lack of proper competency verification and unauthorized administration of narcotics by CMAs placed all residents at risk of receiving medication from unqualified personnel.