The Florida Legislature this week unanimously passed a new bill that would require potential caregivers for children, seniors, and the disabled pass background checks before being hired.

Governer Charlie Crist is expected to sign the bill into law early next week following a statement issued today in support of it.

“Thoroughly screening the backgrounds of those who work with children, elders, persons with disabilities — and then verifying those screening results before employees are authorized to go to work — will no doubt improve overall public safety in the Sunshine State,” Crist said.

Prior to this bill, felons with prior convictions for rape, child abuse, and even murder were allowed to work in nursing homes and daycares as long as they made what amounts to a promise to not offend again. The state cleared more than 8,500 people with criminal records for work through this exemption system. Twenty percent of these people were re-arrested at some point after being exempted.

The new law bans sex offenders and career criminals from ever becoming caregivers as well as requires state officials to sign off on all exemptions for other felons who wish to enter the field.

Loose regulations and poor safety measures can lead to tragic consequences, especially in nursing homes and other caregiving institutions. Contact the New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys of Levinson Axelrod at 800-346-5529 as soon as possible if you suspect someone you love has been a victim of their caregiver.

A State Health Department report released yesterday, April 13, has found a registered nurse (RN) partially responsible in the December 2009 death of an 80-year-old resident at Woodbury Health Care Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The RN has a history of disciplinary actions and incorrectly ordered a halt to CPR on the woman, who suffered from breathing abnormalities and breast cancer.

The nurse told a fellow staffer who was engaged in resuscitation efforts that the woman was dead, and when the staffer continued to apply CPR the nurse raised her voice and repeated that the woman was dead until the staffer stopped.

In a statement in response to the Health Department’s report, the nursing home says that they have fired the nurse.

“Woodbury concluded that the nurse’s actions were not authorized,” the statement read. “This isolated incident does not represent the typical level of quality [care] by our devoted staff.”

The RN’s file showed a number of previous red flags. She had been cited for a lack of professionalism, inability to maintain relationships with subordinates, families, and residents, and a lack of job knowledge. In 2007 a doctor filed a formal complaint against her for “improper conduct.” She was also disciplined in 2009 for incorrectly following wound-management protocol.

It is vitally important that the staff members who will be caring for your loved ones are competent and well-trained. If someone you love has been the victim of an incompetent nursing home, contact the New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys of Levinson Axelrod at 800-346-5529 today to discuss your legal options.