Failure to Provide Sufficient Nursing Staff and Timely Care Due to Staff Cell Phone Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff and services to meet the needs of residents, as evidenced by multiple complaints and observations. Resident council minutes over a three-month period documented repeated concerns about staff being on their personal cell phones during work hours, particularly on day and afternoon shifts. Residents reported excessive call bell wait times, often 30 minutes or longer, with some residents waiting up to 60 minutes for assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting. These delays were attributed to staff being observed using their phones or engaging in personal conversations rather than attending to resident needs. Interviews with alert and oriented residents confirmed that staff cell phone use was a persistent issue, leading to delayed responses to call bells and causing resident frustration. Observations during the survey period corroborated these reports, with staff seen sitting at nurses' stations and in hallways on their personal phones. Facility policy prohibits personal cell phone use during work time, and grievances had previously been filed regarding this issue, with education provided by the DON. Despite these measures, the problem persisted, and administration acknowledged ongoing resident complaints about staff cell phone use.