More Problems Associated with Lax CNA Practice Oversight
Posted by Patti on March 16th, 2009 / 
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Another article about lax CNA oversight, and how it harms patients, residents and other consumers.
Since 2007, the state Attorney General’s Office has charged more than 50 nursing home workers, including five in the Rochester area, for kicking, neglecting, tying up, stealing from or sexually abusing residents.
Most were fired after abuse was reported. But in at least several cases, accused workers in Rochester homes found jobs at other area facilities shortly after their former employers reported abuse to the state. Among them, a certified nurse’s aide accused of kicking an 87-year-old resident, and another convicted of stealing patients’ Social Security numbers.
Oversight of nursing home hiring practices hinges on a careful balance between protecting employees from wrongful accusations and guarding vulnerable residents against mistreatment that’s found in local facilities.
The gap between reporting of abuse, and the investigation and conclusion, is where the problem lies.
This is a problem in most states, and there are no simple answers. However, it seems to me that anyone accused of abuse or neglect, should immediately have their certifications placed on HOLD, pending investigation. Facilities who are hiring can look up names in a database, and make hiring decisions based upon this as well as background checks. It might seem unfair to the aide being investigated- and this should not be about just aides, but nurses as well. Protecting our residents is the most important factor.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:19 am
You’re saying the aide who hits a resident today, gets caught or is reported, and fired, can get a job tomorrow at the nursing home up the road. What about references? Would the facility where the abuse took place not express this to a new facility when they check references?