Failure to Protect Resident Property from Misappropriation
Penalty
Summary
A resident's tablet computer was reported missing after it was last seen on the resident's nightstand, plugged in, by a CNA at the end of the evening shift. The resident regularly used the tablet, and its absence was first noticed by another CNA the following morning when assisting the resident. The resident's daughter later used a tracking application to locate the tablet at a local hotel. The facility's administrator confirmed that an agency CNA, who worked only one night shift and was assigned to the resident, was seen on camera entering the resident's room multiple times during that shift. Attempts to contact this CNA by both the facility and local police were unsuccessful. The facility's abuse and neglect policy prohibits misappropriation of resident property, including deliberate misplacement or exploitation. Despite this policy, the resident's tablet was not protected from wrongful use or theft. The police were notified and investigated the incident, confirming that the agency CNA in question had checked out of the hotel where the tablet was located. The facility failed to ensure the resident's belongings were safeguarded, resulting in the misappropriation of the resident's property.