Misappropriation of Resident Funds by DON
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to prevent the misappropriation of a resident's money when the Director of Nursing (DON) stole $1700.00 from a cognitively intact resident. Upon admission, the resident provided a resealable plastic bag containing the money to an LPN, who then locked it in a cabinet in the medication room. Camera footage confirmed that the LPN secured the bag in the cabinet and that the DON was the only staff member to access the cabinet before the money was discovered missing. The DON removed an item from the cabinet, looked at the camera, and left the medication room. No other staff accessed the cabinet during this period. The resident later requested the money, but staff were unable to locate it. The resident reported emotional distress due to the loss, as the money was intended for gifts for grandchildren. During the investigation, the DON initially denied knowledge of the money but later admitted to taking it when interviewed by the police. The facility's policy defines misappropriation as the wrongful use of a resident's belongings or money without consent, and the DON's actions directly violated this policy.