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

Failure to Initiate and Maintain CPR for Full-Code Resident Until EMS Arrival

Nexus At BerwynBerwyn, Illinois Survey Completed on 03-13-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to initiate and continue CPR for a resident who was a full code and found unresponsive, and to maintain resuscitative efforts until EMS assumed care. Video surveillance showed that at approximately 6:58 AM, a CNA entered the unit, went directly to the resident’s room, opened and immediately closed the door, and left the unit. At about 7:17 AM, another CNA entered the room, then exited to get an LPN; the LPN briefly looked into the room and walked away while the CNA re-entered. Over the next several minutes, multiple staff, including CNAs and LPNs, intermittently entered and exited the room, with one CNA later reporting that the resident’s brief was off and there was feces and urine in the bed. Towels were observed being brought to the room and soiled linens removed, and large plastic bags were used to collect soiled items. The crash cart was brought to the resident’s doorway at about 7:21–7:22 AM, but the video showed that the backboard, manual resuscitation bag, oxygen tank, and AED remained on the cart and were not brought into the room before EMS arrived. Between the time the crash cart was placed near the room and EMS arrival at approximately 7:29 AM, staff did not obtain a backboard, and there is no visual evidence of CPR being performed. The facility’s code blue documentation sheet attached to the crash cart for that date was requested but not provided for review. EMS documentation and paramedic interview indicated that upon arrival at the bedside, no CPR was in progress, no resuscitation equipment was in the room, and only one nurse was present speaking with the roommate. EMS immediately placed a backboard, initiated manual compressions, applied a mechanical chest compression device, and began bag-mask ventilations with oxygen. Staff interviews were inconsistent with the video and EMS findings. One CNA stated she responded to the overhead code, called 911, and waited in the lobby, but video showed her earlier entry into the unit and room and later participation in handling soiled linens. An LPN reported that she performed chest compressions and switched with another LPN, but video showed her only briefly looking into the room, later bringing the crash cart to the doorway, and not re-entering the room until shortly before EMS arrival. The night-shift LPN gave multiple conflicting accounts, initially stating he initiated CPR and called 911, then later admitting he had been “running around trying to figure out what to do,” acknowledging that compressions should not be stopped before EMS takes over, and confirming that cleaning feces and wetness does not take precedence over CPR. The RN from the adjacent unit reported that CPR was in progress and that she participated, but video showed her only very brief entries into the room and primarily handing in towels and obtaining bags and linens. EMS and hospital records documented that the resident was pulseless, apneic, in asystole, and that CPR was initiated by EMS with no return of spontaneous circulation, with signs of rigor mortis noted in the jaw and one arm while the torso remained warm. The American Heart Association adult BLS guidelines cited in the report emphasize early, high-quality CPR and prompt defibrillation, including starting compressions immediately, using a firm surface, minimizing interruptions, and continuing CPR until advanced care arrives. The surveyors concluded that the facility failed to ensure that CPR was initiated and continued for this full-code resident after she was found unresponsive and a code blue was called, and that resuscitative efforts were not maintained until EMS assumed care. This failure was determined to constitute Immediate Jeopardy and had the potential to affect all residents in the facility identified as full code.

Removal Plan

  • Conduct an in-service on performing CPR for full-code residents in cardiopulmonary arrest/emergency medical attention, emphasizing recognition of cardiac arrest, initiating CPR without delay, and staff roles/responsibilities during a code event; document who conducted the training and their title.
  • Complete a knowledge check and competency assessment for all staff; verify nursing staff competence to initiate CPR using a questionnaire and competency test conducted by the DON/designee.
  • Educate all staff currently on duty and verify competency to provide CPR prior to resuming resident care.
  • Audit all residents’ code status orders to ensure they are accurate and readily available to staff.
  • In-service new hires on the facility’s code blue policy by the DON/designee.
  • Provide code blue policy education via telephone to staff who are on vacation or unavailable, and repeat the same education upon their return to work by the DON/designee.
  • Ensure any agency staff (if used) receive the same code blue policy training as facility staff prior to the start of their shift.
  • Conduct a crash cart audit by the DON/ADON/designee to ensure all resuscitation equipment (including a backboard and manual resuscitation device) is readily available.
  • Have the Medical Director, Administrator, DON and RNC review facility policies including the Code Blue policy and Emergency Cart policy.
  • Conduct code blue drills to identify any potential need for additional training; review drill/audit results after each drill by the DON, ADON and Administrator.
  • Conduct random staff interviews with at least five employees to assess knowledge retention and determine if additional training is required.
  • Address any identified concerns.
  • Hold an ad-hoc QAPI meeting to review results of audits and drills and determine if additional interventions are necessary to ensure compliance.
  • Have the Administrator, DON and designee monitor completion of the plan of removal.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $128,550
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.

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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