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.
E

Insufficient Weekend Nursing Staffing

Regency Care CenterNorwalk, Iowa Survey Completed on 05-12-2026

Summary

The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff to meet resident needs on 12 of 26 weekend days during October, November, and December 2025, based on CMS Payroll Based Journal staffing data, staff interviews, facility assessment review, and facility record review. The facility reported a census of 58 residents, and the PBJ Staffing Data Report for October 1 through December 31, 2025 showed the facility triggered the metric for Excessively Low Weekend Staffing, which required follow-up during the survey process. The facility assessment, revised in November 2025 and reviewed in April 2026, identified two nursing units and stated that CNAs were scheduled for three 8-hour shifts. It documented that the Day Shift required seven to eight CNAs total, the Evening Shift required six to eight CNAs total, and the Night Shift required three to four CNAs total. The assessment also identified licensed nurses scheduled for two 12-hour shifts, with two to four nurses or a combination of nurses and CMAs on each shift. Review of weekend Daily Staffing sheets showed multiple shifts where staffing fell below the facility assessment, including shortages on the larger unit and smaller unit across day, evening, and night shifts. Staff interviews described the impact of the staffing shortages. A CNA stated the facility was really short staffed and resident showers had not been completed as assigned. Another CNA stated the facility had gone from four CNAs to three and that staff were running around and did not have time to chart. A CNA assigned to one hall stated she was by herself with six residents requiring Hoyer lifts and at least eight residents needing two staff for care, and that incontinent pads were not always checked and changed every two hours per care plans. Another CNA stated staffing was stressful and that she sometimes stayed to work the next shift when another CNA called in. The Administrator reviewed the dates with excessively low staffing and agreed with the findings.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $31,395
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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 F0725 citations
Insufficient Nursing Staffing and Weekend Coverage
E
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

The facility failed to maintain sufficient nursing staff to meet resident needs and its own staffing plan. PBJ data showed repeated low weekend staffing, and review of staffing postings, assignment sheets, and punch-in records found frequent call-offs and staff leaving early, resulting in staffing levels that often did not match the facility assessment. Staff interviews described CNA/LNA shortages on every shift, especially weekends, and residents reported concerns that there were not enough CNAs to assist with meals and other needs. The DON acknowledged higher turnover and that staffing depended on census and acuity.

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
E
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

The facility failed to provide enough nursing staff to meet resident needs, with staff and residents reporting frequent short staffing, long call light delays, missed showers, and rushed care. During meal observations, a resident spilled food while waiting for help, another could not reach a breakfast tray until a NA repositioned them, and a resident with a paralyzed arm had the tray placed on the wrong side. The report also cited inadequate wound care for a resident with a surgical hip wound and a pressure injury that developed in the facility.

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
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 staffing led to delayed call light response, delayed incontinence care, and incomplete ADL support. Residents reported long waits for help, including mechanical lift transfers and brief changes, while staff described short aide coverage, uncovered call-offs, and difficulty completing showers, checks, and two-person transfers. Observations showed residents left wet or waiting for care, and an LPN and ADON were observed not completing requested assistance when they entered resident rooms.

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 Caused Delays in Care and Medication Administration
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 led to delayed ADL care, late medication administration, and missed ordered enteral feeding. Residents and CNAs reported long waits for incontinence care, help with meals, and response to call lights, especially on the overnight shift. MARs showed repeated late doses for multiple residents, including meds given hours late or after midnight, and an LPN confirmed she forgot to connect a resident’s PEG tube feeding because she had too many tasks and about 30 residents assigned.

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 Staff for Restorative 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 nursing staff led to missed restorative care for multiple residents. The facility did not use dedicated RNA staff and instead assigned restorative tasks to floor CNAs, who said they were too busy to provide separate 15-minute sessions. Interviews with residents and staff showed omitted ROM, dressing routines, exercise programs, and prosthesis application, while Point of Care entries marked the tasks complete even though they reflected routine CNA care rather than actual restorative services.

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 MCU Staffing During Resident Altercation
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

An LPN left the MCU with only one CNA present, despite a staffing guideline requiring two staff members on the unit at all times. While the LPN was off the unit, a resident with dementia became verbally aggressive with two other residents, covered one resident's mouth, threw a walker at the CNA, and then exchanged swatting and punching with another resident before the CNA separated them. The residents involved had dementia-related diagnoses and cognitive impairment, and one resident later had a UTI identified.

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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