Failure to Knock Before Entering Resident Rooms Compromises Dignity
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain resident dignity and respect by not knocking before entering the rooms of four residents. During an observation, the Infection Preventionist (IP) entered the rooms of these residents without knocking or requesting permission, contrary to facility policy. The IP acknowledged during an interview that she did not knock and recognized the importance of this action in showing respect to residents. The facility's policy on dignity, revised in February 2022, requires staff to knock and request permission before entering a resident's room to promote well-being and self-worth. The residents involved had varying cognitive and physical needs. Two residents had severely impaired cognitive skills and required significant assistance with daily activities, while the other two had intact cognitive skills but still required some assistance with personal hygiene and toileting. The failure to knock before entering affected residents with diagnoses including dementia, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, anxiety, and atrial fibrillation. This practice had the potential to impact the residents' self-esteem and sense of self-worth.