F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
F

Facility Assessment Did Not Identify or Verify Staff Competencies

Trenton Gardens Rehabilitation And Nursing CenterTrenton, New Jersey Survey Completed on 12-11-2025

Summary

The facility failed to ensure its Facility Assessment identified the competencies and skill sets necessary to provide the level and types of care needed for the resident population. The Facility Assessment listed special care needs including dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, ostomy care, tracheostomy, and ventilator care, but interviews showed there was no system in place to document hourly training or performance evaluations for CNAs, and the DON could only provide CNA checklists without specifics about the amount of training. The Infection Preventionist stated that, besides handwashing, no other staff competencies were provided. The ADON stated she did not physically observe nursing staff provide care, did not complete annual competencies, and did not have an annual education schedule. She also stated the facility did not have a person to demonstrate competency for dialysis care, mechanical lifts, or trach care, and could not tell how agency staff competency was verified. The LNH Administrator acknowledged that education in the building was not being done correctly and that no competencies were being completed.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $170,80276 days payment denial
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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

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0838 citations
Incomplete Facility Assessment Missing Required Care Resources
D
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

The facility failed to accurately complete its Facility Assessment. The assessment did not reflect the skill sets needed for the resident population or list medical equipment in use, including an AED, tracheostomy care and management, a Life Vest, wound vac machines, and glucometer devices. The NHA confirmed the omission during interview.

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.
Facility Assessment Listed Former Administrator
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

The facility failed to keep the Facility Assessment accurate by leaving the former Administrator listed on the document even after it was reviewed with QAPI. The current Administrator stated he was not employed at the time of the review and acknowledged he mistakenly did not update the administrative staff. This affected 58 of 58 residents.

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.
Facility Assessment Missing Unit-Based Nursing Staffing Details
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility Assessment Missing Unit-Based Nursing Staffing Details: The facility failed to complete a thorough facility-wide assessment of nursing staff resources needed for resident care during routine operations and emergencies. The assessment did not identify the specific RN, LPN/LVN, CMA, and CNA staffing levels needed for each unit based on acuity and census, and it lacked staffing levels for each shift and weekends. An Administrative Nurse and Administrative Staff member stated they were not certain the assessment broke down staffing by shift and unit, including weekends.

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.
Failure to Conduct and Document Facility Assessment
F
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Failure to Conduct and Document Facility Assessment: The facility did not have evidence of a required Facility Assessment to determine the resources, staffing, and skill sets needed to care for residents during routine operations and emergencies. The NHA and an RN confirmed that no such assessment was available until after the surveyor requested it.

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.
Facility Assessment Lacked Required Staff and Resident Input
C
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

Facility assessment lacked required input from direct care staff and residents. Review of the assessment showed no indication that direct care staff, resident representatives, and/or family members were involved, and the DON confirmed that none were included in the process.

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.
Failure to Properly Screen Resident With Hemicraniectomy Before Admission
D
F0838 F838: Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations (including nights and weekends) and emergencies.
Short Summary

A resident with severe cognitive impairment, a feeding tube, and a recent ischemic MCA stroke s/p hemicraniectomy was admitted after referral review failed to identify the bone flap and helmet requirement. After the resident developed hypotension and was sent to the ER, the DON stated the resident could not return because of acuity and the facility did not accept residents with helmets for that purpose. The DON and Admissions Director stated the resident should not have been accepted because the referral review missed the clinical condition.

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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