Bloomfield Health Worker Fired After Death At NJ Nursing Home

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Authorities have temporarily suspended the certification of a health worker from Bloomfield accused of recklessly causing the death of a woman in her care at a nursing home in Cedar Grove.

On Thursday, the State Board of Nursing suspended its homemaker-home health aide (CHHA) certification for Monique Beaucejour, 46, of Bloomfield, who was working at Genesis Waterview Center in Cedar Grove.

Beaucejour was fired from her job immediately after the 85-year-old woman’s death, which occurred on Aug.13.

• See related article: Bloomfield Woman Arrested After Death At Cedar Grove Nursing Home

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs released a joint statement about the accusations facing Beaucejour:

“[Monique Beaucejour] was working as certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Genesis Waterview Center in Cedar Grove last month when she allegedly left an elderly woman, who required total assistance with care, sitting on her bed. The woman suffered a fall with serious head injuries, but instead of immediately summoning medical assistance, Beaucejour allegedly placed the woman back in bed, and left her there. Beaucejour later returned to the room and summoned help for the woman, pretending to have just discovered her lying injured in bed, according to the accusations. The woman was transported to the hospital and died later that day.”

Police have charged Beaucejour with reckless manslaughter, obstructing the administration of law, suppressing evidence to hinder prosecution, and abandonment/neglect of an elderly person.

Beaucejour, who was not working under her CHHA certification when the incident occurred, agreed to the temporary suspension of her certification pending the outcome of the criminal charges against her and pending further action by the board.

Under the interim consent order with the board, Beaucejour cannot practice, identify herself, or be employed as a CHHA. She also must surrender all copies of her CHHA certificates to the Board of Nursing.

The suspension of Beaucejour’s CHHA certificate is temporary, pending the outcome of the charges against her. The Board of Nursing may take further disciplinary action after the disposition of the criminal charges. The surrender of her CHHA certificate is not considered an admission of liability, authorities said.

In addition, the New Jersey Department of Health, which regulates nursing assistants employed in health care facilities, has suspended Beaucejour’s CNA certification.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com