Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice for families seeking care, though there is room for improvement. It ranks #88 out of 417 facilities in North Carolina, placing it in the top half, and is the best option in Onslow County. However, the facility's performance is worsening, with issues increasing from 3 in 2023 to 4 in 2024. Staffing is rated 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average, and turnover is at 57%, slightly above the state average, indicating that staff may not stay long enough to build strong relationships with residents. While the facility has a low fine amount of $4,271, which is average, some concerning incidents have been noted, such as a resident rolling off the bed during care, leading to injury, and a lack of documented advanced directives for some residents, which highlights areas needing attention.
- Trust Score
- B
- In North Carolina
- #88/417
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $4,271 in fines. Lower than most North Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 30 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for North Carolina. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
10pts above North Carolina avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
9 points above North Carolina average of 48%
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to prevent a resident from rolling off the bed during care whic...
Read full inspector narrative →
Aug 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
PASARR Coordination
(Tag F0644)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, staff interview, and medical record review, the facility failed to refer a resident with newly evident dia...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure a Physicians order for an as needed (PRN) psychotrop...
Read full inspector narrative →
MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, observation, and staff interview the facility failed to code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment accur...
Read full inspector narrative →
May 2023
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, and record reviews, the facility failed to submit an initial allegation report and an investigation r...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to have a medication error rate of less than 5% as evidenced by 2 medication errors out of 28 opportunities which gave th...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 7 - Resident #6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses that included chronic respiratory failure. Her quarterly M...
Read full inspector narrative →
Jan 2022
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews the facility failed to code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment accurately in the ...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure the physician received the Pharmacy Consultant's reco...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure physician's orders for psychotropic medications to be...
Read full inspector narrative →
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0565
(Tag F0565)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record reviewed and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to resolved grievances that were reported in resident council meetings for 4 of 6 months reviewed (July 2021, September ...
Read full inspector narrative →
MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to provide written notification to the resident representative ...
Read full inspector narrative →
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • $4,271 in fines. Lower than most North Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • 57% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within North Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Staffed?
CMS rates Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 57%, which is 10 percentage points above the North Carolina average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs. RN turnover specifically is 62%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during 2022 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm and 2 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center?
Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by PRINCIPLE LONG TERM CARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 120 certified beds and approximately 96 residents (about 80% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
How Does Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (57%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in North Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Stick Around?
Staff turnover at Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is high. At 57%, the facility is 10 percentage points above the North Carolina average of 46%. Registered Nurse turnover is particularly concerning at 62%. RNs handle complex medical decisions and coordinate care — frequent RN changes can directly impact care quality. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center Ever Fined?
Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has been fined $4,271 across 1 penalty action. This is below the North Carolina average of $33,122. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Carolina Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.