Premier SNF of Alice: Unlicensed CNA Worked Months - TX
CNA A provided resident care on a full-time basis with an expired certification during an extended period, according to federal inspection records. The facility's director of nursing and human resources coordinator both failed to catch the expired status during routine oversight checks.
The assistant had worked at the facility for approximately five years and told inspectors he was unaware his certification had expired. He explained that when he first acquired his certification in 1988, instructors told him "as long he kept working then his certification would be automatically renewed."
CNA A believed the facility would maintain his certification for him.
The director of nursing told inspectors at 12:16 PM that she was not aware the assistant's certification had expired. She stated each employee was responsible for ensuring their license or certification remained current, but added that the human resources coordinator was responsible for reviewing staff credentials periodically.
"A staff member without the proper certification or license may accidentally harm a resident," the director of nursing told inspectors. She described CNA A as "one of the best CNAs at the facility" who "constantly got compliments from residents and their families."
The human resources coordinator, who had been in her role since an unspecified date, told inspectors at 12:30 PM that tracking staff licensure and certifications was her responsibility. She ran audits of employees periodically to ensure credentials remained current.
Her last audit was conducted around a specific date mentioned in records. During that review, she missed that CNA A's certification had expired.
"It was important to ensure all necessary staff were licensed or certified to keep the residents as safe as possible," the human resources coordinator told inspectors.
The facility's employee handbook clearly outlines credential requirements. Page 26 states: "All professionally registered, licensed and certified staff is required to maintain current licensure, registration and/or certification. A copy of the current documentation must be submitted to your department head for inclusion in your personnel file."
The handbook warns that failure to provide documentation or maintain status "may result in suspension and/or termination." It specifies that renewal costs are the employee's responsibility.
CNA A had signed the handbook's signature page, acknowledging these policies.
The inspection found that residents who received care from the unlicensed assistant were at risk of decreased physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Federal inspectors noted that an active certification demonstrates an employee is "capable and deemed fit to practice as a CNA."
The violation represents a breakdown in the facility's oversight system at multiple levels. While the assistant believed his certification would automatically renew as long as he kept working, facility policies clearly assigned responsibility to both the employee and management for maintaining current credentials.
The human resources coordinator's periodic audits were designed to catch exactly this type of lapse. Her admission that she "missed" the expired certification during her review raises questions about the thoroughness of the facility's credentialing system.
The director of nursing's statement that each employee was responsible for current credentials conflicts with the facility's own assignment of oversight duties to human resources. This confusion over responsibility may have contributed to the extended period the assistant worked without proper certification.
The case highlights how residents can be placed at risk when facilities fail to maintain basic oversight of staff qualifications. While the director of nursing praised the assistant's performance and resident feedback, state certification requirements exist to ensure all nursing assistants meet minimum competency standards.
The assistant's decades-old misunderstanding about automatic renewal suggests inadequate communication about professional responsibilities when he was hired five years ago. His belief that the facility would maintain his certification for him indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of professional obligations that went unaddressed for years.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm to residents. However, the extended duration of unlicensed practice and the facility's failure to detect it during routine audits demonstrate systemic weaknesses in credentialing oversight.
The inspection occurred following a complaint, though the nature of that complaint was not specified in available records.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for The Premier Snf of Alice from 2025-08-14 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
THE PREMIER SNF OF ALICE in ALICE, TX was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 14, 2025.
CNA A provided resident care on a full-time basis with an expired certification during an extended period, according to federal inspection records.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.