Failure to Maintain Resident Privacy and Dignity During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to protect and promote the rights of a resident by not maintaining privacy and dignity during personal care. During an observation, a resident with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and a cognitive communication deficit was found lying in bed with his genital area exposed. While two CNAs assisted the resident in turning and repositioning, his back and buttocks were also exposed. The genital area remained uncovered even after repositioning, and the privacy curtain between the resident and his roommate was left open throughout the care. The roommate was awake and positioned to potentially observe the care being provided. Both CNAs acknowledged that the resident should have been covered and the curtain closed to protect privacy. The resident's medical records indicated significant physical and cognitive impairments, requiring maximal to total assistance for personal hygiene and showering. The facility's policy required that residents be treated in a manner that maintains privacy, including the use of closed doors or drawn curtains during personal care. The Director of Nursing confirmed that residents should be covered when not actively receiving care and that privacy curtains should be closed if a resident's genital area is exposed during care.