Failure to Provide Proper Nail Care for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with functional quadriplegia, who was dependent on staff for personal hygiene, was observed with untrimmed and dirty fingernails on the right hand. The resident's Admission Record indicated a diagnosis of functional quadriplegia, and the Minimum Data Set confirmed functional limitations in both upper and lower extremities, requiring staff assistance for personal hygiene. During an observation, the resident's fingernails were found to be untrimmed and dirty, and a Certified Nurse Assistant acknowledged that the nails should have been trimmed and clean, in accordance with facility expectations. A review of the facility's policy and procedure for nail care revealed that daily cleaning and regular trimming of nails during activities of daily living (ADL) care were required to prevent infections and skin problems. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility's policy was not followed in this instance and that the expectation for grooming services for the resident was not met.