Failure to Ensure LVN Maintained Active License
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) maintained a current and active license in accordance with state law. A review of the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians licensure report showed that the LVN's license was inactive, meaning the licensee was not permitted to practice in California, even though the license had not yet expired. The facility's policy required verification of licensure status through the appropriate agency and assigned responsibility for maintaining valid licensure to the Human Resources Director or designee, as well as to the licensed employee. Interviews with the Administrator and Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the LVN's license became inactive toward the end of August and that this was discovered during a routine monthly license lookup. The DON acknowledged that license reviews are typically conducted at the end of each month but admitted to not being on top of the process in this instance. The LVN was subsequently removed from the work schedule after the inactive status was identified.