Failure to Maintain Required RN Coverage
Summary
The facility failed to use the services of a registered nurse for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week for 10 of 89 days reviewed for RN coverage. Review of the Nursing Master Schedule for January, February, and [DATE] showed zero hours worked by an RN on the weekend days of [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], [DATE], and [DATE]. The report states the facility did not have an RN on duty on those dates. During interviews, the HR Director reviewed the time sheets and confirmed that no RN clocked in on the dates in question. She stated the facility is expected to have an RN on all days and explained that the absence of RN coverage could delay or prevent duties within the RN scope of practice, such as pronouncing a resident deceased and other clinical responsibilities that cannot be performed by an LVN. The Administrator stated the facility is required to have RN coverage for eight consecutive hours per day, seven days per week, and the DON stated the facility was required to have RN coverage for eight hours each day; she also stated that if she became aware there was no RN coverage, she would typically come to the facility or the facility would use agency nursing staff. The DON acknowledged that notifications about missing RN coverage may sometimes be missed, and the facility stated it did not have a policy specific to RN hours.
Penalty
Resources
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