Failure to Provide Mandatory Behavioral Health Training to All Nursing Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide mandatory in-service behavioral health training to all nursing staff as required by its own policies and as scheduled on the in-service calendar. A review of the training sign-in sheets for the scheduled behavioral health in-service revealed that only 36 out of 142 nursing staff attended, despite the training being mandatory for all licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants. The Director of Staff Development confirmed that not all staff attended the training, and the Director of Nursing reiterated that attendance was required for all nursing staff. The facility's policies specify that all staff must participate in regular in-service education, including behavioral health topics such as recognizing psychosocial distress, implementing care plan interventions, and following protocols for mental health conditions. The facility assessment indicated that the resident population includes individuals with psychiatric and mood disorders, and that staff are expected to be trained to care for residents with dementia and other mental health issues. The failure to ensure full staff participation in behavioral health training resulted in noncompliance with facility policy and regulatory requirements.