Inadequate Staff Training Leads to Resident Altercation
Summary
The facility failed to provide staff with the necessary competencies and skills to meet the behavioral health needs of residents, resulting in a physical altercation between two residents on a locked behavioral health unit. On the first day of employment, Hall Monitor I was assigned to supervise the unit without receiving orientation or training related to the residents' behavioral health needs or appropriate responses to deescalate behaviors. This lack of preparation left Hall Monitor I unable to intervene effectively when Resident #23 pushed Resident #5 into a wall, causing Resident #5 to fall and hit their head. Resident #23, who has diagnoses of bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and impulse disorder, was involved in the altercation after becoming upset with a peer. Despite requesting PRN medication earlier in the day due to feelings of anger, Resident #23 did not receive it. The situation escalated when Resident #23 heard another resident talking about them on the phone, leading to a confrontation that resulted in Resident #5 being pushed. Hall Monitor I, who was left alone on the unit, did not intervene until after Resident #5 fell, at which point a Code Green was called, and additional staff arrived to manage the situation. The facility's failure to ensure that Hall Monitor I received appropriate training and orientation contributed to the incident. Hall Monitor I was not aware of the behavioral management techniques necessary to handle such situations and was left in charge of the unit without support. The Director of Nursing and other staff acknowledged that Hall Monitor I should not have been left alone on the unit without proper training, highlighting a significant deficiency in the facility's staffing and training procedures.
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