F0729

D

Unverified Registry CNA Worked Under Another Individual’s Identity

Westminster, California Survey Completed on 02-05-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that an individual working as a CNA held a valid and up-to-date license and met competency evaluation requirements for training. A complaint forwarded to CDPH indicated that a CNA from a registry was scheduled for an afternoon shift, but a male individual arrived and claimed to be that CNA, even though the actual CNA was a female. The male individual signed the staffing assignment sheet, received facility orientation from the DSD/IP, and then received a brief resident-care orientation from another CNA. The DSD/IP did not check or verify the individual’s identity using a government-issued ID or confirm the CNA license prior to or at the start of the shift.

Interviews with the DSD/IP, DON, and Administrator revealed that the DSD/IP was responsible for verifying employees’ identity and licenses, conducting background checks, and providing orientations, but she did not verify the identity, license, certification, or competency evaluations of this individual or any registry staff prior to the incident. The Administrator stated that the facility relied on the registry company to verify identity and licensure and did not require its own verification of registry staff. The DSD/IP acknowledged she did not know whether the male individual who worked the shift had a valid CNA license or competency evaluation and that, prior to this event, the facility did not maintain personnel files or conduct identity and license checks for registry staff. The facility’s failure to verify the identity and licensure of the individual resulted in an unverified, potentially unlicensed person working under another CNA’s name and providing direct care to residents, with the DSD/IP later learning from the actual CNA that she had not accepted or worked the shift.