Failure to Complete Required Background Checks for Agency Nursing Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its policies and procedures regarding the screening of potential staff, specifically related to conducting criminal background checks (BGCs) for agency-contracted nursing staff. Review of personnel files for five agency nurses revealed that none had documentation of a valid Washington State BGC prior to working unsupervised with residents. These staff members worked multiple unsupervised shifts without the required background clearance, despite facility policy and state guidelines mandating that all staff, including agency-contracted personnel, must have a completed and approved BGC before having unsupervised access to residents. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the required process for background checks was not followed. The Scheduling Coordinator presented BGC authorization forms, which were not actual completed background checks, and acknowledged the oversight. The Administrator also confirmed that the established process required BGC clearance prior to unsupervised work, but this was not adhered to for the agency staff in question. This lapse resulted in agency nurses providing care and services to residents without the mandated background screening.