F0725

E

Failure to Designate a Charge Nurse on All Shifts

Richton, Mississippi Survey Completed on 02-23-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to designate a licensed nurse to serve as charge nurse for each tour of duty, as required by its own policy and facility assessment. The facility’s written policy on Nursing Services-Staffing, revised 11/17, states that each facility will designate a nurse as a charge nurse on each tour of duty, and that this charge nurse will supervise care to promote quality of life, resident rights, and ensure care is consistent with the comprehensive care plan. The facility assessment dated 11/17/25 outlines a staffing plan that includes a charge/treatment RN on the 7:00 AM–3:00 PM shift, but lists only LPNs and aides for the 3:00 PM–11:00 PM and 11:00 PM–7:00 AM shifts, with no explicit charge nurse role identified for those shifts.

A review of the monthly staff schedule for February 2026 showed that on a reviewed date there were three nurses scheduled for the 7:00 AM–3:00 PM shift, two nurses for the 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shift, and one nurse for the 11:00 PM–7:00 AM shift, with no nurse designated as charge nurse on any shift. During interviews, the Staff Development Nurse confirmed that she does not schedule a designated charge nurse after 3:00 PM and described that the 7:00 AM–3:00 PM shift has two medication nurses and one treatment nurse, while the later shifts have only LPNs without a designated charge nurse. The DON, along with the Staff Development Nurse and Administrator, further confirmed that the facility does not have a designated charge nurse for the 3:00 PM–11:00 PM or 11:00 PM–7:00 AM shifts, and that the 7:00 AM–3:00 PM charge nurse also performs treatments. This failure to designate a charge nurse for two of three shifts had the potential to affect all 57 residents in the facility.