Life Care Center of Cheyenne: Infection Control Gaps - WY
The resident, who had undergone major surgeries including placement of nephrostomy tubes and a colostomy before admission, verbalized back pain and discomfort during a September 24 procedure to change colostomy equipment and wound dressings. The registered nurse performing the procedure did not assess or acknowledge the resident's pain complaints.
Federal inspectors observed the nurse preparing supplies for the dressing change after the resident's scheduled shower with occupational therapy. With assistance from a nurse practitioner and certified nursing assistant, staff rolled the cognitively intact resident from side to side while changing the colostomy bag, wafer, and nephrostomy tube dressings.
The resident had last received 5 milligrams of oxycodone at 7 AM that morning for a pain rating of 7 out of 10. No pain medication was administered before the afternoon procedure.
After completing the dressing change, the nurse assessed the resident's pain level at 3:10 PM and found it had escalated to 8 to 9 out of 10. The resident requested Tylenol, which the nurse administered 12 minutes later at 3:22 PM.
When questioned by inspectors, the registered nurse revealed a troubling approach to pain management. The nurse stated that while residents were sometimes premedicated for pain before dressing changes, "the resident's pain and anxiety is so bad at times that we will just push through it."
The resident confirmed to inspectors the next day that they experienced pain during the dressing change and would have preferred receiving pain medication beforehand.
Medical records showed the resident had multiple conditions requiring pain management, including cancer, frequent pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle weakness. A cognitive assessment scored the resident 13 out of 15, indicating they were mentally intact and capable of accurately reporting their pain levels.
The facility's director of nursing told inspectors that residents with known pain from dressing changes should be premedicated if it falls within the physician's ordering timeframe. Physician orders from September 11 authorized 500 milligrams of acetaminophen every six hours as needed, and orders from September 19 permitted 5 milligrams of oxycodone every six hours for moderate to severe pain.
A September 15 physician's order established the resident's acceptable pain level at 5 out of 10, yet staff allowed pain to reach nearly double that threshold before providing relief.
The facility's own pain management policy, last revised September 23, requires staff to ensure residents receive treatment according to professional standards and their comprehensive care plan. The policy specifically mandates identifying target signs and symptoms, including both verbal and nonverbal indicators of pain.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to provide appropriate pain management for residents who need such services. The inspection found Life Care Center failed to meet this standard for the cancer patient, whose complex medical conditions and recent surgical procedures clearly indicated the need for proactive pain control.
The resident's medication administration records showed sporadic pain relief. Beyond the morning oxycodone dose and evening Tylenol, the resident had received 500 milligrams of acetaminophen the previous evening at 9 PM, leaving significant gaps between doses despite available physician orders.
The case illustrates how inadequate pain assessment and management can compound suffering for vulnerable nursing home residents. Despite having appropriate medications available and clear evidence of the resident's pain levels, staff failed to provide timely relief during a predictably painful medical procedure.
The registered nurse's admission that staff sometimes "just push through" severe resident pain raises questions about the facility's commitment to basic comfort care standards for its most vulnerable patients.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Life Care Center of Cheyenne from 2025-11-18 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
Life Care Center of Cheyenne in Cheyenne, WY was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 18, 2025.
The registered nurse performing the procedure did not assess or acknowledge the resident's pain complaints.
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.