Failure to Secure Smoking Supplies and Supervise Resident Smoking Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision and safe storage of smoking supplies for a resident who was assessed as a safe, unsupervised smoker. According to the facility's smoking policy, all smoking materials for residents deemed safe to smoke independently were to be secured by the facility, with supplies such as lighters and cigarettes stored by nursing staff. However, repeated observations showed that the resident kept a lighter and cigarettes in his backpack, accessible at all times, contrary to the policy and his care plan interventions, which specified that his smoking supplies should be stored with the nurse. Interviews with nursing and nurse aide staff revealed inconsistent practices and a lack of awareness regarding the storage of the resident's smoking materials. Staff members stated that the resident had always kept his own supplies and was the only resident allowed to do so, despite the policy requiring all supplies to be stored by the nurse. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator were unaware that the resident had his smoking materials on his person and confirmed that this was not in accordance with facility policy or the resident's signed smoking agreement. The resident in question had a history of seizure disorder, anxiety, and depression, and was cognitively intact and independent in most activities of daily living, using a wheelchair for mobility. Despite the absence of prior incidents related to his possession of smoking materials, the facility's failure to enforce its own policy and care plan interventions resulted in a deficiency related to accident prevention and supervision.