Failure to Maintain Full-Time Director of Nursing Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the presence of a full-time Director of Nursing (DON) as required. During the survey, it was found that the current Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) was acting as the interim DON, but was only present in the facility for 32 hours per week according to the staffing schedule. Further, the DON confirmed working a total of 40 hours per week, but only 20% of that time, or approximately eight hours per week, was dedicated to the long-term care facility, with the remainder spent working for the hospital. The facility assessment indicated a DON was required, but the actual hours worked in the LTC facility did not meet the full-time requirement. This deficiency affected all 27 residents residing in the facility on the date in question.