Staff Solicitation and Acceptance of Money from Resident
Penalty
Summary
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) requested and accepted money from a cognitively intact resident who was independent with all activities of daily living and had diagnoses including right leg above the knee amputation, end stage renal disease, depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety. The CNA told the resident that they were at risk of losing their home and unable to pay bills, which led the resident to provide money to the CNA. The resident reported giving the CNA varying amounts of money, with the most consistent figure being $220, which the CNA used to pay a cell phone bill. The CNA also attempted to persuade the resident to move in with them, further blurring professional boundaries. The incident was discovered when the resident informed other staff members that they had been financially helping the CNA. Staff interviews and facility documentation confirmed that the CNA had solicited and accepted money from the resident, and that the CNA had attempted to move the resident out of the facility. The administrator was notified and began an investigation, which included alerting the resident's representative, the primary care provider, and law enforcement. The police were informed but did not pursue criminal charges, though they noted the incident was a clear policy violation. The facility's abuse prevention policy prohibits misappropriation of resident property, including the unauthorized or coerced use of a resident's money by staff. The resident's care plan identified them as being at risk for financial abuse and exploitation due to their willingness to give money to others. Despite this, the CNA was able to exploit the resident for personal financial gain, and the facility did not initially reimburse the resident for the money taken.