Misappropriation of Resident Funds by CNA
Penalty
Summary
A certified nurse aide (CNA) took a resident's government-issued debit card without the resident's knowledge or permission and used it to make unauthorized withdrawals and purchases. The resident, who was newly admitted, able to make themselves understood, had some difficulty making decisions, and was independent with activities of daily living, noticed discrepancies in their account balance. The resident reported the missing funds to the business office manager (BOM), who, with the resident's permission, set up an online account to review the transactions. The review revealed multiple unauthorized ATM withdrawals and payments for food delivery, utilities, and a cell phone provider, totaling $1,369.69 over several days. The resident denied giving anyone permission to use the debit card for these transactions, except for a previous instance where the CNA was allowed to purchase cigarettes and returned the card. Law enforcement was notified, and the resident identified the CNA as the individual using the card in ATM footage provided by the police. The CNA claimed to have received permission to use the card for some purchases, but the resident denied this. The incident was reported to the facility administrator, who confirmed the resident's ability to handle their own finances and that the resident had not authorized the transactions in question. The facility's policy required that residents be free from abuse, including misappropriation of property, and outlined procedures for investigating such incidents. The investigation included interviews with the resident, staff, and review of transaction records. The facility also confirmed that the CNA was suspended pending investigation, and the incident was reported to the appropriate authorities as required by policy.