Staff Failure to Wear Identification Badges Violates Resident Rights
Penalty
Summary
Three of five sampled staff members, including a receptionist, a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and a maintenance worker, were observed not wearing identification badges as required by the facility's policy. The receptionist stated she was new and still waiting for her badge to be issued. The CNA admitted to forgetting to wear her badge that day, and the maintenance worker indicated he was not wearing his badge while doing rounds in residents' rooms. These observations were confirmed during interviews with the staff involved. The facility's policy, updated in January 2021, mandates that all employees must wear a visible identification badge with their full name, position, and photo at all times while on the premises. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) confirmed that all staff are expected to comply with this policy so residents can identify facility staff. The failure of these staff members to wear their badges did not support a culture of safety and transparency and violated residents' rights to know who was providing care and to be treated with respect.