Unsupervised Access to Smoking Materials
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident who was assessed as requiring supervision for smoking was found with a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on the bedside table, accessible and unattended. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 12 confirmed that smoking materials are supposed to be locked at the nurses' station and not left with residents. During an interview, the resident stated that her cigarettes and lighter were in her purse, which was in her lap at the time. The Director of Nursing (DON) reiterated to the resident that facility policy requires smoking articles to be locked up. Review of the resident's Smoking Assessment indicated the need for supervision, and facility policy mandates that all smoking materials be stored securely based on individual assessments. Despite these requirements, the resident had unsupervised access to smoking materials.