Failure to Provide Required RN Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a registered nurse (RN) was on duty for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, seven days a week, as required. Record review of the Direct Care Staff Daily Report for the specified quarter revealed that on seven separate days, there was no evidence of 8-hour RN coverage. Both the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator (ADMN) confirmed during interviews that the expectation was to have RN coverage for 8 hours daily, but this was not achieved due to the inability to hire RNs, particularly for weekend shifts during the months of February and March. The DON stated she was available by phone and lived close to the facility, while the ADMN noted that support staff were available by phone as well. The ADMN was responsible for creating the staffing schedule and acknowledged that there was no policy in place for RN staffing. The lack of RN coverage was attributed to ongoing difficulties in hiring RNs, and there was no documentation to show that the required RN hours were met on the identified dates. The report does not mention any specific residents affected or provide details about their medical history or condition at the time of the deficiency.