Failure to Honor DNR Order and Resident Rights
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's documented Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order as indicated in the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and other medical records. When the resident was found not breathing, multiple nursing staff, including RNs and LVNs, initiated and continued cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for seven minutes without verifying the resident's code status. The decision to start CPR was based solely on an unidentified person shouting that the resident was a full code, rather than checking the resident's POLST, Admission Record, or electronic health record, all of which clearly indicated a DNR order. The involved staff, including those who performed CPR and those who assisted, admitted during interviews that they did not check the resident's code status and instead relied on the verbal assertion from an unidentified individual. The resident's POLST, Admission Record, and care plan all indicated DNR status, and the resident had previously expressed his wish for DNR due to his medical condition, including a cancer diagnosis. Despite these clear directives, the staff proceeded with resuscitation efforts until paramedics arrived and identified the DNR order in the resident's documentation. Facility policy and procedures required staff to verify code status and honor residents' rights to refuse life-sustaining treatment. However, these procedures were not followed during the emergency. The Director of Nursing and other staff acknowledged that the resident's wishes were not respected and that the failure to verify code status before initiating CPR was a violation of both facility policy and the resident's rights.
Removal Plan
- The Social Services Director (SSD), the DON, and the Assistant DON (ADON) conducted an in-house audit of each resident's POLST, Advance Directive, and History & Physical (H&P) exam to determine if the resident had the capacity to make decisions and to verify the resident's responsible party if the resident did not have the capacity to make decisions.
- The Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) reviewed the medical record of all residents and verified which residents were Full Code, which were DNR, and which had advanced directives.
- RNC 2 provided reinforcement training to LVN 1, RN 1, RN 2, and RNC 1 on Resident Rights, POLST, Communication of Code Status, CPR, DNR, Advance Directive, and Medical Emergency Response.
- The SSD and the DON met with residents who had the capacity to make their own decisions and verified that their POLST was current.
- The SSD and the DON spoke with the resident representative of each resident who did not have the capacity to make decisions, to verify if their POLST is current. All the resident representatives stated that the POLST is current and there are no changes.
- The Medical Records Director (MRD) printed current Admission Record (face sheets) of each resident reflecting the verified POLST.
- The ADON printed out the list of all residents with their Code Status Orders Report (based on the POLST) and visibly posted the list at each nurses' stations, emergency cart, and in a binder at the medication carts. The Code Status Order Report will be updated daily by the 11pm to 7am licensed nurses and checked for accuracy. The 7am to 3pm licensed nurses will update any report not completed during the prior 11pm to 7am shift.
- The DON placed DNR stickers on the outside of the confirmed DNR residents' medical records to clearly display their DNR status. The 11pm to 7am licensed nurses were tasked to reconcile the Code Status Order Report daily with the DNR stickers and update as necessary. The MRD will audit the DNR stickers on the medical records and reconcile it with the Code Status Order Report weekly to ensure accuracy. The audit will be documented utilizing a Code Status audit form. Any inaccurate findings will be immediately corrected by MRD. The Code Status audit form will be available in the facility's binder with all documents related to the IJ Situation (IJ Binder).
- The licensed nurse assigned to the desk work will discuss resident code status during huddle for all three shifts. During the huddle the nursing supervisor will assign a licensed nurse as the Shift Code Leader should any incident occur.
- The SSD placed red wristbands (to visually identify DNR status) on the wrists of residents with DNR orders with their consent. Residents with DNR status agreed to wear the red wristbands. The IDT updated the Care Plans of the residents with DNR orders. All licensed nurses are tasked to print the code status report and visually verify that red wristbands are worn by the residents with orders for DNR and document it on the DNR Form list. The MRD will audit residents' care plans weekly utilizing the Code Status audit form to ensure compliance and accuracy.
- The ADM updated the Person-Centered Interview and Rounding Worksheet to reflect the wristband section for department managers to visually verify that the wristband is intact on their assigned residents on Monday through Friday basis. Registered Nurse (RN) supervisor will conduct the audit on weekends utilizing Weekend Room Round form. Department Managers and RN supervisor will utilize the Code Status Order Report to ensure accuracy during rounds. The Person-Centered Interview and Rounding Worksheet and Weekend Room Round forms will be available the Room Rounds binder.
- A mandatory facility-wide in-service training was conducted to reinforce the facility's P&P including Resident Rights, POLST, Communication of Code Status, CPR, DNR, Advance Directive, and Medical Emergency Response. 100% of the staff received the in-service training. New hires will be educated prior to the start of their first scheduled shift.
- The ADM or the DON will interview employees from different shifts on weekly basis to validate understanding of the in-service training on Resident Rights, POLST, Communication of Code Status, CPR, DNR, Advance Directive, and Medical Emergency Response. Employee response will be recorded utilizing an Employee Validation form. The form will be available in the IJ Binder.
- Regular audits during IDT meetings will include verification of the residents' clinical record for the current code status. Newly admitted residents' code status will be reviewed during IDT meetings. The audit will be done upon admission and readmission of residents, weekly for current residents or when where there is a change in residents' code status. The audits will be documented utilizing the Code Status audit form and will be reported by the MRD during Monday through Friday operations meeting for appropriate follow up.
- The IDT conducted Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and identified the following: a. Code status was not immediately visible during an emergency requiring life-saving measures if appropriate. b. There was a lack of visual cues such as DNR sticker or resident identifier such as red wristbands.
- A QAPI (Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement) was implemented to track and report on above audit findings. The findings will be presented at the monthly QA Committee meeting for a minimum of three months for review and recommendations. After the initial three months, the QA Committee will decide regarding the continued frequency of audits and subsequent reporting, with audits continuing at least monthly to sustain compliance.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Staff failed to honor a resident’s expressed preference to use a mounted doorbell instead of knocking before entering the room. The resident had PTSD and a history of trauma, and knocking was a known trigger. During observation, a CNA knocked, rang the doorbell, and opened the door while the resident was being interviewed, despite a posted sign requesting staff ring the bell and not knock. Interviews confirmed staff knew the resident’s preference and trigger.
Failure to maintain resident dignity and privacy during care: multiple residents reported CNAs used personal cell phones while assisting with showers, peri-care, and other care, including texting and talking in resident areas and during meals. A resident with stroke-related paralysis and severely impaired cognition was observed receiving wound care with the door open and the privacy curtain not pulled, allowing others to see into the room while the LPN provided care.
A resident who was dependent on staff for toileting and transfers, and who was frequently incontinent, was left in bed in only a sweatshirt and brief while crying after staff told her to stay in bed and pee her pants so they could clean her up later. The resident said this happened often and that her call light was frequently turned off. Staff interviews confirmed she should not have been told to remain incontinent, and the DON stated residents should never be told to be incontinent because it is a dignity issue.
A resident with a foley catheter was observed with the catheter bag hanging uncovered on the side of the bed while the room door was open. The resident had diagnoses including stroke-related hemiplegia/hemiparesis and UTI, and the care plan noted a foley catheter related to neurogenic bladder. CNA staff stated the bag should have been covered, and the DON acknowledged it was a privacy issue.
Failure to Maintain Female Residents' Dignity With Unwanted Chin Hair: Three female residents were observed with visible chin hair after showers, despite needing staff assistance with bathing and grooming. Two residents had severe cognitive impairment and one had moderate cognitive impairment; one resident said the hair bothered her and another said she was waiting for the beauty shop to shave it off. Family members stated the residents would not choose to have beards and that the unwanted chin hair caused embarrassment and affected dignity.
A resident with impaired cognition, incontinence, and a catheter for neurogenic bladder had his catheter drainage bag visible in the commons area and later from the hallway, with clear yellow urine showing. Staff, including therapy, the IP, and an RN, did not arrange privacy, and the bag was also hung facing out toward the room entrance. The DON stated staff were expected to keep the blue side of the bag facing the public to cover it and maintain dignity.
Staff Failed to Honor Resident’s Doorbell Preference
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff treated Resident #39 with dignity and respect by honoring the resident’s expressed preference for how staff announced themselves before entering the room. Resident #39 was admitted with diagnoses that included PTSD and frontal lobe and executive function deficit, and stated during interview that knocking on the door was a known trigger related to a history of trauma. The resident preferred that staff use the mounted doorbell instead of knocking when the door was shut for privacy. During observation, CNA #2 approached the resident’s room, knocked on the door, rang the mounted doorbell, and then opened the door while surveyors were interviewing the resident. The resident responded, “Not now, I’m busy,” and the CNA closed the door. A sign posted outside the room stated, “Pls. Ring the Bell, Don’t Knock! STOP,” and a doorbell was mounted next to the sign. Interviews with the ADON and CNA #9 confirmed staff were aware of the resident’s preference and that knocking was a known trigger, yet the observed practice did not follow the resident’s stated wishes.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Privacy During Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to treat residents with respect, dignity, and privacy by allowing staff to use personal cell phones while providing care and by failing to maintain privacy during wound care for one resident. Twelve confidential residents stated that CNAs used personal cell phones while assisting with showers, providing care in resident rooms, and performing peri-care, and that staff also texted and talked on phones while walking in hallways, at nurses’ stations, and in the dining area during meals. The residents stated this occurred on every shift and made them feel embarrassed, concerned about the quality of care, and that their privacy was violated. During interviews, the DON and ADM stated staff should not use cell phones or earbuds while providing care and should keep phones in breakroom lockers. They stated residents should receive undivided attention and that staff were trained on resident rights, dignity, privacy, and cell phone use during orientation, ongoing education, and in-services. They also stated staff were monitored through rounds, and both acknowledged that cell phone use in resident care areas could violate privacy and reduce attention to care. Resident #7 was a male resident with a history of cerebral infarction, left-sided hemiplegia and hemiparesis, and urinary tract infection, and his MDS indicated severely impaired cognitive skills for daily decision making. During observed wound care, LVN D did not close the door or pull the privacy curtain around the resident, and two female residents were seen passing by and looking into the room while care was being provided. LVN D stated she had been trained to close the door and pull the curtain but did not do so because she was waiting for the CNA, and the DON and ADM stated they expected the door to be closed and the curtain pulled for privacy during resident care.
Failure to Preserve Resident Dignity During Toileting Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure dignified care for one resident who was dependent on staff for toileting and transfers, frequently incontinent of bowel and bladder, and had diagnoses that included dementia, diabetes, non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction, depression, heart failure, and asthma. Her care plan directed staff to assist her with toileting, provide incontinence care, and offer toileting every 3 hours so she could remain free of skin breakdown and have her dignity respected. She was also documented as being able to verbally ask for toileting assistance and requiring extensive assistance with transfers and toileting needs. During an observation, the resident was found lying in bed wearing only a sweatshirt and an incontinent brief, with no pants and not fully covered by bedding. She was crying and stated staff told her she had to stay in bed and could not get up, and that they told her to pee her pants and they would clean her up in bed. She stated this happened all the time and that nursing assistants shut off her call light just about every day. While she was crying, a nursing assistant entered, said she was wet and needed to be cleaned up, told her not to cry, and then provided incontinent care. During interviews, staff acknowledged the resident should not be told to go in her pants or be encouraged to remain incontinent. One NA stated the resident was encouraged to stay in bed because staff were short and the NA had other residents to care for, and that the resident had asked to get up but was waiting because she required assistance of 2. Other staff stated the resident should never be told to just go in her pants, that residents should not be told to be incontinent, and that such statements were a dignity issue. The DON stated staff were expected to provide care when requested and never tell a resident to be incontinent because it was a dignity issue.
Uncovered Foley Catheter Bag Observed With Door Open
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was treated with dignity when Resident #3’s foley catheter bag was observed hanging on the side of the bed without a cover while the room door was open. Resident #3 was admitted with diagnoses including hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the left non-dominant side and a UTI, and his care plan documented that he had a foley catheter related to neurogenic bladder. The facility’s Promoting/Maintaining Resident Dignity policy stated that residents are to be protected and promoted in their rights and treated with respect and dignity. During interview, CNA #1 stated the catheter bag should have been covered since the door was open, and the DON stated she had never thought the catheter should have been covered in the room with the door open and acknowledged it was a privacy issue.
Failure to Maintain Female Residents' Dignity With Unwanted Chin Hair
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to treat three residents with dignity and respect when each had visible chin hair that was not consistently removed after bathing. Resident #1, a female resident with moderately impaired cognition, was dependent on staff for toileting and required assistance with bathing. Her record showed she was showered on 06/02/26, but on 06/03/26 and again on 06/04/26 she was observed with several white, approximately one-inch-long hairs on her chin. During interview, she stated the hairs bothered her and said she was waiting for the beauty shop ladies to come because they usually shaved her chin hair off for her. She also stated CNAs never shaved her chin. Resident #37, a female resident with severely impaired cognition, was dependent or required partial/moderate assistance across all ADLs except eating and required one staff member to assist with bathing. Her record showed she received a shower on 06/02/26. On 06/03/26, she was observed multiple times lying in bed with several dark and light grey hairs sprinkled across her chin, approximately half an inch long. During interview, her family member stated she would not choose to have a beard and that when at home she used a trimmer to remove unwanted chin hair. The family member also stated CNAs shaved her chin when they showered her. Resident #44, a female resident with severely impaired cognition, Parkinson's disease, lack of coordination, and muscle weakness, was dependent across all ADLs except eating and required two staff members for bathing. Her record showed she was showered on 06/02/26. On 06/03/26 and again on 06/04/26, she was observed with long, white, curling hairs on both sides of her chin. During interview, she stated it bothered her to have chin hair and that she did not like it. She said she could shave her chin if she had a razor and stated CNAs had shaved her chin in the past, but she did not know why they had not done so lately. Her family member stated the chin hair bothered her, that he had never seen her with chin hair before she came to the facility, and that she would become emotional and embarrassed if it was mentioned.
Visible Catheter Drainage Bag Not Kept Private
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure dignity was maintained for one resident who had moderately impaired cognition, was dependent on staff for dressing, bed mobility, and toileting, was always incontinent of bowel and bladder, and had intermittent catheterization for neurogenic bladder. The resident’s care plan identified a catheter and included an intervention to position the catheter bag and tubing below the level of the bladder and away from the entrance room door. During an observation, the resident’s urinary catheter drainage bag was visible while he was seated in his wheelchair in the commons area, with clear yellow urine showing and the bag hung under the wheelchair. After the resident was brought to his room, staff emptied the catheter drainage bag and hung it on the side of the bed facing out to the room entrance. On a later observation, the catheter drainage bag was uncovered in the commons area, with the clear side facing toward the hallway and elevator space so that clear yellow urine was visible from the hallway. Therapy staff, the infection preventionist, and the resident’s RN were present in the area and did not arrange privacy for the catheter drainage bag. Staff later stated the bag should be covered for privacy, and the DON stated staff were expected to keep the blue side facing the public to cover the bag and maintain dignity. The facility’s dignity policy stated catheter drainage bags and colostomy pouches should be covered with commercial covers or tucked out of plain sight.
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