F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
F

Insufficient overnight nursing staffing and delayed resident care

Humboldt House Rehabilitation And Nursing CenterBuffalo, New York Survey Completed on 10-10-2025

Summary

The facility did not ensure sufficient nursing staff with appropriate competencies were available on a 24-hour basis to meet resident needs on floors two, three, and four. The facility assessment stated staffing was census- and acuity-based, and an addendum indicated that for a census of 149 the minimum would be one LPN per unit per shift with an RN on call. Resident Council minutes from July and August 2025 documented complaints that CNA staff, especially on nights, were slow to answer call bells and that all nursing staff needed to respond more quickly. Multiple residents described long delays in care. One resident who could not move independently reported waiting over two hours for incontinent care and being left in a soaking wet brief. Another resident reported repeated overnight delays in receiving pain medication, including waiting hours after ringing the bell. A third resident stated they had gone three weeks without a shower because staff said there was not enough staffing. Another resident reported call lights being turned off without anyone returning, and another stated the third shift had the worst staffing and call lights took a long time to be answered. Medication administration records showed that a resident with dementia, hypothyroid, and hypertension did not receive a scheduled 4:00 AM levothyroxine dose on one occasion. Staff interviews indicated they prioritized duties across all three floors and were unable to get to that medication pass. Review of overnight schedules showed that on one night only the nursing supervisor was working in the building, and on another night only two nurses were present. The staffing coordinator, DON, RN supervisor, NP, and administrator all acknowledged that the overnight staffing was below the facility’s expected minimum of one nurse per floor, and several stated that one or two nurses on the overnight shift with a census of 147 to 149 residents was not appropriate or not recommended.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $198,200
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0725 citations
Insufficient nursing staff on unit
D
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

Insufficient nursing staff were present on a unit when a resident who required 2-person assist for ambulation and toileting was found walking from the bathroom to bed alone after waiting for help. At the time, only an LPN and a clerk were observed on the unit, while other NA staff had already punched out and the second nurse was charting on another unit.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Insufficient CNA Staffing and Delayed Resident Care
F
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

Insufficient CNA Staffing and Delayed Resident Care: Residents and staff reported that CNA coverage was inadequate on evenings, nights, and weekends, leading to delayed call light response and unmet care needs. A resident with impaired mobility and another with CVA-related deficits reported long waits for assistance, while a CNA stated she was the only CNA on a hall overnight and had not been able to check many rooms. The Administrator and CNA Supervisor acknowledged staffing shortages, especially on nights and weekends, and resident council and grievance records also documented concerns about short staffing.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Insufficient Nursing Staffing and Delayed Resident Care
D
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

Insufficient nursing staffing led to delayed and incomplete resident care. The facility scheduled fewer CNAs than required by its assessment, often leaving only 5 to 6 CNAs on day shift instead of 8, and staff were told to cancel shifts when census dropped. Residents reported long waits for toileting and assistance, including being left in feces and waiting during meals for help, while CNAs described working alone, delayed call light response, missed or delayed ADL care, and difficulty completing 2-person transfers and mechanical lifts.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Delayed Response to Resident Call Lights
D
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

Delayed response to activated call lights was identified for a resident with intact cognition who required assistance with toileting, transfers, and ambulation and had care plan interventions for impaired mobility, safety, weakness from TIA, and fall risk. The resident reported staff often shut off the call light without providing help, and alarm records showed multiple response times over 15 minutes, including several lasting more than 30 minutes and up to nearly an hour. Staff and the DON acknowledged that response times had exceeded the expected timeframe, and the facility policy required staff to respond to engaged call lights in a timely manner.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Missing Medication Documentation After Short-Staffed Shift
D
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

A resident with a PEG tube, dysphagia, dementia, epilepsy, and other neurologic conditions had scheduled meds ordered through the tube, but the eMAR showed no meds documented for an entire evening med pass. The RN/UM said she worked a double shift because of a nursing call-out and forgot to document the meds as given, and the DON acknowledged the missed documentation.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Insufficient Nursing Staffing and Delayed Call Light Response
F
F0725 F725: Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Short Summary

Insufficient nursing staffing and delayed call light response were identified after residents reported waits of 30 minutes to 2 hours for assistance, including one resident left in the bathroom for 45 minutes and another with a 55-minute wait after activating a call light. The CNA scheduler said staffing was based on a corporate PPD target of 2.85 hours per resident rather than acuity, and records showed multiple weekend shifts with CNA, UM, and RN call-offs or no-shows. Residents also reported staff sitting in the lounge, not responding to lights, and unmet toileting and care needs.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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