Uncertified Staff Member Assigned to CNA Duties Without Verification
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a staff member assigned to Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) duties was properly trained, certified, and listed on the CNA registry. Staff E was transferred from a dietary aide position to a CNA role and performed direct resident care duties without evidence of CNA licensure or registry verification. Review of Staff E's personnel file revealed no documentation of CNA certification, and background screening confirmed the absence of a professional license. Staffing assignment sheets showed that Staff E was regularly scheduled and assigned to provide direct care to residents in various rooms over multiple shifts. Interviews with facility leadership, including the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA), Regional Nurse Consultant (RNC), and Human Resource Manager (HRM), confirmed that Staff E had been working as a CNA without the required credentials. The NHA and RNC attributed the oversight to a lack of process and possible misconduct by a former HR staff member, who was later terminated for unrelated reasons. The current HRM and staffing coordinator were unaware of Staff E's lack of certification, and the facility's job description for the CNA position explicitly required active, unrestricted CNA certification.