Failure to Complete Skills Competency Checkoffs for New Nursing Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that newly hired licensed nurses and certified nurse assistants (CNAs) received skills competency checkoffs before providing resident care. Three new hires were reviewed, and none had completed or documented skills checkoffs as required by facility policy. One graduate practical nurse reported not being assigned a preceptor, not receiving a skills checkoff form, and not having her skills reviewed before working independently. She also stated she felt overwhelmed with charting and other processes that were not reviewed with her during orientation. The Clinical Educator confirmed that she had not performed any skills checkoffs with the new nurse and was unaware if the previous Director of Nursing had done so. Additionally, the Clinical Educator acknowledged that she had never obtained completed new hire skills checkoffs since starting her role and was often pulled away from her educator duties to work on the medication cart. Review of documentation for two CNAs revealed that required skills checklists and audit tools were either unsigned, undated, or missing staff and trainer names, making it impossible to verify that competencies had been completed. The Administrator confirmed that the facility could not locate any skills review forms for the new nurse and acknowledged that all new hires should have skills checkoffs to ensure competency. The lack of completed and documented skills checkoffs for new hires resulted in the facility's failure to ensure staff competency prior to providing resident care.