Failure to Respect Resident's Rights and Dignity During Personal Property Handling
Penalty
Summary
Certified Nursing Assistant 4 (CNA 4) failed to provide dignity and respect to a resident by removing personal food items and washing the resident's boots without obtaining permission. The resident, who had moderately impaired cognitive skills for daily decision making but was independent in most activities, reported that she had won several individually packed Moon Pies during facility activities and stored them in her bedside table. CNA 4 cleaned the resident's closet and bedside table, taking the Moon Pies without informing or seeking consent from the resident. The resident expressed that this action was an invasion of her privacy and requested that her belongings be left alone. Additionally, CNA 4 took the resident's boots to be washed despite the resident's explicit refusal. The CNA stated that she noticed the boots were wet and smelled bad, and after the resident declined to have them washed, she reported the odor to the Charge Nurse, who instructed her to take the boots to laundry. The CNA did not inform the resident before removing the boots, which caused the resident distress when she discovered her boots were missing. The boots were returned two days later. Interviews with other staff, including LVNs and the Activities Director, confirmed that the resident was upset by these actions and that staff should have obtained permission before removing personal belongings or food items. Facility policy also required staff to explain procedures, answer questions, and obtain permission before implementing any care or removing resident property. The failure to follow these procedures resulted in a lack of respect for the resident's rights and dignity.