Inappropriate Cell Phone Use During Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was treated with respect and dignity, as evidenced by an incident involving a staff member's inappropriate use of a personal cell phone during resident care. The facility's policy on personal cell phone use mandates that phones must be turned off and stored away during work hours, and not carried on the employee's person while actively working. However, a Transportation/Certified Nurse Aid was observed using her phone to text while assisting a resident with eating, holding a utensil in one hand and her phone in the other. This occurred despite the facility's clear policy prohibiting phone use in resident areas. The resident involved, who was rarely or never understood according to their Minimum Data Set, did not respond to questions during the surveyor's visit. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator confirmed that staff should not be on their phones while providing care.