Nurses who slept during shift no longer work at Massachusetts VA nursing home after probe

Federal investigators found a nurse and a nurse’s aide asleep during their shifts at the Brockton (Mass.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center nursing home, according to The Boston Globe.

Advertisement

A VA spokesperson said officials took “immediate corrective action” after the incident and an internal investigation. The two nurses no longer work at the nursing home.

One nurse slept in a darkened room while the other was wrapped in a blanket in the locked cafeteria.

The sleeping staff members served as a critical focus of an internal report on patient care at the facility, conducted after a colleague complained, according to a letter sent in late October to President Trump and Congress by the agency that protects government whistle-blowers.

The VA’s Office of Medical Inspector largely supported the whistle-blower’s complaint, concluding a “a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety exists” in the nursing home.

“We have significant concern about the blatant disregard for veteran safety by the registered nurses and certified nurse assistants,” the agency investigators wrote in a report.

More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Not wearing face masks during endoscopies could spread infections, study finds
Nearly 1 in 5 seniors skip necessary medical care, survey finds
CDC seeks comments on updated infection control guidelines for healthcare workers

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Clinical Leadership & Infection Control

Advertisement

Comments are closed.