Resident Found in Possession of Cigarette Lighter in Violation of Smoking Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to enforce its smoking policy, which prohibits residents from possessing cigarette lighters in their rooms and requires that such items be stored at the nursing station. During an observation, a resident who was a current tobacco user was seen removing a lighter from his pocket and using it to light a cigarette on the smoker's patio. Review of the resident's care plan indicated that smoking supplies were to be stored according to facility policy. Interviews with facility staff, including an LPN and the Regional Administrator, confirmed that residents should not have lighters in their possession and that staff were unaware the resident had a lighter. This lapse in supervision and policy enforcement resulted in the resident having access to a cigarette lighter, contrary to facility regulations.