Expired Licensure for Medication Aides Led to Unqualified Staff Administering Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff, specifically two Certified Medication Aides (CMAs), maintained current licensure as required by regulations. According to the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry and facility work schedules, both CMAs worked and administered medications to residents after their certifications had expired. The facility's records showed that one CMA worked six days and the other worked two days with expired licenses before the issue was identified. Human Resources staff and the Administrative Nurse were responsible for monitoring licensure expiration dates but did not detect the lapses, resulting in unlicensed staff providing care. Interviews with Human Resources and the Administrative Nurse confirmed that the oversight occurred because the expiration dates for the two CMAs were not properly tracked or communicated. The facility had a policy in place to ensure nursing services were provided by appropriately licensed staff, but this policy was not effectively implemented in these instances. As a result, all residents in the facility were placed at risk of not receiving care from properly credentialed staff.