Failure to Ensure Staff Competency Assessments
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that nurse aides demonstrated competency in the skills and techniques necessary to care for residents' needs. During the investigation of an abuse allegation involving a resident, a review of a Geriatric Nursing Assistant's (GNA) employee file revealed that, although a general orientation checklist was present, there was no evidence of initial or ongoing skills assessments to confirm competency. The administrator confirmed that no such skills assessments existed for this staff member. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Human Resources director further revealed that the facility did not have a formal process for evaluating staff skills competency. The DON, who had recently assumed the position, stated that there was no formal method in place for verifying nurse and GNA competencies, and that the facility did not have a skills lab. The DON also indicated that, aside from pharmacy-conducted medication pass observations for nurses, no formal competency evaluations were conducted.