Failure to Knock Before Entering Resident Room Violates Dignity Policy
Penalty
Summary
Licensed Vocational Nurse 1 (LVN 1) failed to knock on a resident's door before entering the room on multiple occasions while administering medication. This was directly observed during a medication pass, and LVN 1 confirmed in an interview that she did not knock prior to entering the resident's room. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that staff are expected to knock before entering residents' rooms to respect their privacy and dignity, as the facility is considered the residents' home. The resident involved had been admitted and readmitted to the facility with diagnoses including Parkinsonism and was assessed as having severely impaired cognitive skills, requiring maximal assistance with most activities of daily living. The facility's policy on dignity, last reviewed in October 2024, requires staff to knock and request permission before entering residents' rooms to promote residents' sense of well-being and respect their private space. The failure to follow this policy resulted in a violation of the resident's right to dignity and respect.