Failure to Screen and Prevent Employment of CNA with Federal Misconduct Indicator
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that an employee with a federal indicator for misconduct on the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Registry was not hired or engaged to work. The facility's policies required screening of potential employees for any history of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property, including checking the CNA Registry for federal indicators. Despite these policies, a review of one employee's personnel record showed that the individual was hired even though their CNA Registry indicated a federal marker for misconduct. Interviews revealed that the Social Service Director (SSD) was responsible for conducting background checks, including reviewing the CNA Registry. However, the SSD overlooked the section indicating the federal marker for misconduct, focusing instead on the active status of the CNA. The administrator was unaware of the federal indicator and acknowledged that no audits were being conducted to ensure compliance with hiring policies at the time.