Failure to Ensure Licensed Nurse Maintained Active Nursing License
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that a licensed nurse maintained a valid, active nursing license while working. The facility had a census of 54 residents with a sample of 14 residents. Facility documentation dated 02/17/26 showed that an administrative staff member identified that one licensed nurse’s (LN H’s) nursing license had lapsed on 11/30/25. The facility verified the lapse through searches on the Nursys national nurse licensure database and the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) verification website. On 03/23/26, surveyors independently confirmed via Nursys and KSBN that LN H’s license had lapsed on 11/30/25, yet LN H continued to work at the facility with the lapsed license until 02/17/26. Administrative staff interviews revealed that human resources (HR) staff were responsible for verifying valid licenses and tracking expiration dates, but this process had not been maintained. An administrative nurse stated that recent turnover in HR staff contributed to nursing license and nurse aide registry checks not being kept up to date. Another administrative staff member reported that, after turnover of three different HR staff in the prior six months, she discovered that nursing license verifications had not been completed for some time. The facility’s Background Screening Investigations policy, dated November 2023, documented that for any licensed professional applying for a position involving direct resident contact, the respective licensing board is to be contacted to determine if any sanctions have been assessed against the applicant’s license.
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