F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
J

Ineffective CPR Administration Due to Lack of Training and Equipment

Crestview Health & RehabilitationMooresville, North Carolina Survey Completed on 06-13-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure effective administration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) when a resident went into sudden cardiac arrest. CPR was initiated by three nurse aides without the use of a backboard, which is essential for effective chest compressions. Two of the nurse aides involved were not certified in CPR for Healthcare Providers. Observations revealed that the compressions performed by one of the aides were not deep enough to create the necessary chest recoil, and the staff had to instruct and eventually replace him with another member. The resident involved was admitted with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease, chronic respiratory failure, and a history of pulmonary embolism. At the time of the incident, the resident was found unresponsive in his room, and CPR was initiated by the staff. However, the absence of a backboard and ineffective compressions compromised the CPR efforts. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived and questioned the lack of a backboard, which was only placed under the resident after their arrival. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the location of the crash cart and the necessary equipment for CPR. The Director of Nursing (DON) and other staff members acknowledged that the facility's training program had gaps, and the staff involved in the CPR were not adequately trained or certified. The facility's CPR policy required properly certified staff to be available at all times, but this was not adhered to during the incident.

Removal Plan

  • The Staff Development Coordinator (SDC) will complete an audit of the current CPR status of the nursing staff to include licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, certified medication aides and agency nursing staff.
  • The SDC will provide a CPR list of the nursing staff with current CPR certifications at each nursing station.
  • Only certified CPR staff that are listed on the CPR list will be allowed to perform CPR.
  • The Director of Nursing (DON), SDC, and nursing supervisor will be responsible for reviewing the daily staffing to ensure a CPR certified staff is working each shift.
  • The facility CPR carts were checked by the Staff Development Coordinator to ensure missing supplies were replaced on the carts and both carts have back boards.
  • The DON will place the crash cart checklist on nursing station #1's crash cart and ensure that the crash cart checklist is in place on nursing station #2's crash cart.
  • The SDC will educate the night shift licensed nurses on completing the crash cart checklist sheet on nursing station #1 and nursing station #2.
  • The night shift licensed nurses will be responsible for completing the crash cart checklists each night and ensuring the carts are stocked, and the back boards are in place.
  • The Director of Nursing and the Staff Development Coordinator (SDC) will educate the nursing staff to include the licensed nurses, certified medication aides, and the certified nursing assistants on the CPR policy to include ensuring only nursing staff certified to perform CPR with current CPR certification status will be allowed to perform CPR, and making sure the back board is in place before initiating CPR to ensure that chest compressions are effective and allow for chest recoil.
  • A list of the nursing staff with current CPR certifications will be placed at each nursing station.
  • Nursing staff will not be allowed to perform CPR without their name listed on the CPR list and without a current CPR certification.
  • The CPR list will be updated weekly by the SDC, to include newly hired and/or agency staff's CPR expiration and renewal dates.
  • The Director of Nursing/Staff Development Nurse will conduct a mock Code Blue drill for training purposes on the 7am -7pm shift and 7pm- 7am shift.
  • The Director of Nursing/Staff Development Nurse will conduct a mock Code Blue drill monthly thereafter.
  • The Staff Development Coordinator (also a Certified CPR instructor) will begin teaching the American Heart Association CPR class and certifying staff pending their post class passing test scores.
  • The class will be provided for staff whose CPR certifications are expired or staff without CPR certification.
  • The Director of Nursing and the SDC will educate the licensed nurses on ensuring that the CPR crash carts are being checked daily, after use and the back board is in place.
  • The night shift licensed nurses will be responsible for completing the crash cart checklist sheet each night and ensuring that the CPR crash carts are stocked, and the back boards are in place.
  • The DON will be responsible for checking the CPR crash carts and reviewing the daily CPR crash cart checklist for completion weekly to ensure continual compliance.
  • The Staff Development Coordinator (SDC) and the Director of Nursing will be responsible for ensuring all nursing staff to include licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNA), certified medication aides (CMA), weekend, agency and prn staff receive the CPR education.
  • Staff including new hires and prn staff will not be allowed to work without completing this education.
  • The education will be ongoing to include new hires and prn staff.
  • The Administrator will be responsible for ensuring implementation of this immediate jeopardy removal for this alleged non-compliance.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $119,32740 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 F0678 citations
Failure to Provide Required CPR and Activate EMS for Full Code Resident
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple cardiopulmonary conditions and a documented full code status was found unresponsive without pulse or respirations during the night shift. A CNA notified the RN, who either instructed CNAs to clean and cover the resident or, per her and an LPN’s account, called a code blue and performed CPR with the LPN for about 20 minutes before stopping, without calling 911. The RN believed the resident was on hospice and did not verify code status, then notified the DON, provider, and family instead of EMS. Several hours later, after the DON called the facility and asked whether 911 had been contacted, the RN called 911 and briefly reinitiated CPR shortly before EMS arrived and pronounced the resident deceased, documenting postmortem changes. The facility’s investigation and root cause analysis found that staff failed to follow policy requiring immediate EMS activation and continuous CPR for full code residents until EMS arrival, leading to an Immediate Jeopardy finding.

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 Initiate CPR for Resident With Unknown Code Status
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple chronic conditions and severe cognitive impairment was found unresponsive and not breathing, with no documented code status, POLST, or DNR in the medical record. Nursing staff verified the absence of respirations and pulse but did not initiate CPR or call 911. An LPN reported she proposed starting CPR due to the unknown code status, but an RN declined. Leadership and clinical staff stated in interviews that facility practice and expectations are that, when a code status is unknown or no POLST is on file, the resident is to be treated as full code and CPR should be initiated.

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.
Inaccurate Crash Cart Audits and Missing Emergency Equipment
E
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

The facility failed to maintain accurate and complete crash cart audits for multiple full-code residents. Surveyors, accompanied by the DON, found that daily crash cart checks did not include verification of supply expiration dates, and that an extension cord documented as present on several audit dates was not actually in the cart. Audit logs also conflicted with the cart’s contents by indicating that required items such as eye protection, saline, and clear plastic were present when they were not. These findings were inconsistent with the facility’s policy requiring the crash cart to be checked every 24 hours and after each use, with prompt replacement of equipment and supplies.

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 Initiate CPR and Contact EMS for Full Code Resident Found Unresponsive
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with NASH, diabetes, ascites, obesity, and a documented Full Code status was found unresponsive during early morning med pass, cool to the touch and without measurable vital signs. Her care plan and orders required staff to call 911 and start CPR and life-saving measures if she had no pulse or respirations, but the LPN and RN who assessed her did not initiate CPR, did not contact EMS, and did not verify her code status in the medical record at the time. The resident had not been checked for several hours overnight despite policies requiring at least q2h rounding for changes in condition. There was no documentation that she had been deceased for an extended period, no report of rigor mortis, and no evidence of any change in condition prior to being found unresponsive, resulting in a cited deficiency for failure to follow code status and emergency response policies.

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 Verify and Honor DNR Status Before Initiating CPR
D
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with documented dementia, depression, coronary artery disease, and a clearly established DNR/DNI status on the care plan, orders, and MOLST was found unresponsive in the bathroom without pulse or respirations. An LPN, notified by a CNA, initiated CPR without checking the resident’s code status in the paper chart or EMR. When the RN supervisor arrived and asked about code status, the LPN incorrectly reported the resident as full code, and another RN assisted with chest compressions without verifying code status. Staff experienced confusion and delay locating the MOLST and paper chart, and EMS requested confirmation of the resident’s code status. The MOLST ultimately confirmed DNR/DNI, but CPR had already been performed until EMS consulted their provider and stopped the code, after which the resident was pronounced deceased.

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 Provide Timely and Complete CPR to a Full Code Resident
J
F0678 F678: Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Short Summary

A resident with multiple cardiac and renal conditions and a documented Full Code status was found unresponsive and not breathing by a transportation aide, who immediately sought help from an LPN and the assigned RN. The LPN refused to assist, stating it was not their resident, and the RN twice delayed responding despite being told it was an emergency, leading to a reported five- to ten-minute delay before any nurse entered the room. An LPN from another unit eventually initiated chest compressions, and other nurses joined, but no artificial respirations were provided at any time, even though the resident was apneic and an Ambu bag was available. This response did not follow the facility’s CPR policy or AHA guidelines for trained healthcare providers, which require full BLS with both compressions and rescue breaths for a Full Code resident prior to EMS arrival, and the situation was cited as Immediate Jeopardy with actual serious harm and subsequent death.

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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