F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
D

Failure to Provide Dementia Training to CNA

Desert Regional Medical Center D/p SnfPalm Springs, California Survey Completed on 08-01-2024

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that dementia training was provided to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), identified as CNA 1, who was hired on January 29, 2024. This deficiency was discovered during an unannounced visit on August 1, 2024, which was conducted to investigate an allegation of abuse. Upon reviewing CNA 1's personnel file, it was found that there was no documentation indicating that CNA 1 had received the required dementia training. This lack of training was confirmed during a concurrent interview with the Regulatory Manager (RM), who acknowledged that CNA 1 had not undergone the necessary dementia training, despite the facility's policy of providing such training annually to all CNAs. Further interviews with the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) revealed that the facility admits residents with dementia, and it is essential for all Skilled Nursing Facility staff to have dementia training to ensure they can effectively care for and handle residents with dementia. The facility's policy, titled 'CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT ORIENTATION AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM,' dated December 21, 2023, mandates that new CNA employees receive an orientation program, which includes training on the care of cognitively impaired patients. The policy also requires no fewer than five hours of dementia-specific training every calendar year. The failure to provide this training to CNA 1 had the potential to result in staff lacking the necessary skills to manage and care for residents with dementia effectively.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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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

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See other F0947 citations
Failure to Ensure Required Annual CNA In‑Service Training Hours
D
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

The facility did not ensure that CNAs received the required minimum of 12 hours of annual in‑service training. A review of three CNAs’ education records showed that one CNA had completed only 10.47 hours of training for the current annual period. The DON confirmed that this CNA had been skipping course content and going directly to the test, resulting in incomplete training hours. This deficiency had the potential to affect all residents receiving care from CNAs, as inadequate training places residents at risk for harm due to staff not being fully prepared to safely provide required 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.
Failure to Provide Required Annual Competency Training for CNAs
F
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

The facility did not ensure that all CNAs received the required 12 hours of annual competency in‑service training, including dementia care and abuse prevention. Review of records for two agency CNAs showed no documented annual CNA training, despite a facility assessment stating that nurse aide in‑services must total at least 12 hours per year and address competency needs. One agency CNA reported not receiving any annual competency training or knowing it was required, and another reported receiving no training in the past year while providing care to all residents. The AIT and DON confirmed that these CNAs had not received the required annual training from either the facility or their agency.

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 Required Annual In-Service Training for CNA
D
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that a CNA’s personnel file lacked documentation of the required 12 hours of annual in-service education, including dementia care and abuse prevention. The CNA had been employed for over a year, and facility leadership confirmed there was no evidence that the mandated annual training had been completed.

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 Required Annual In-Service Training for CNAs
D
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

The facility did not ensure that CNAs received the required minimum of 12 hours of annual in-service education, including dementia care and abuse prevention. Surveyors found, through staff interviews and record review, that two CNAs hired more than a year earlier had not completed at least 12 hours of in-service training during their most recent anniversary year. The NHA confirmed that these CNAs had not met the annual training requirement and acknowledged that CNAs are expected to receive at least 12 hours of in-service education each year.

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.
Missing Dementia and Abuse Prevention Training
E
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

The facility failed to provide required in-service training on dementia management and resident abuse prevention for five sampled staff members, including an RN, an LPN, and three NAs. It also failed to document that three sampled NAs received the required 12 hours of annual in-service education. The NHA confirmed the missing training and documentation 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.
Failure to Provide Required Annual In‑Service Training for Nurse Aides
D
F0947 F947: Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Short Summary

The facility did not ensure that two nurse aides completed the required 12 hours of annual in‑service education, including dementia management, abuse prevention, and training to address performance weaknesses. One aide had only a brief in‑service on infection control and respirator use, while another had less than four hours of training focused on safe resident handling, mechanical lift use, elopement prevention, and ethics. The DON and the NHA confirmed that the required annual in‑service training had not been completed, resulting in noncompliance with state personnel and staff development regulations.

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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