Failure to Treat Resident with Respect and Dignity During Verbal Exchange
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a history of depressive episodes, anxiety, delusional disorders, and auditory hallucinations was not treated with respect and dignity during an interaction with a nurse aide (NA). The resident, who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and had a BIMS score of 13/15, became upset during an incident involving spilled food. Witnesses reported that the NA spoke to the resident in a loud and harsh manner, questioning the resident's ability to clean themselves and using inappropriate language. The resident responded with foul language, and the NA repeated the phrase back to the resident, further escalating the situation. Multiple staff members, including a dietary aide and an LPN, overheard the exchange and confirmed that the NA's tone and volume were inappropriate. Facility documentation and interviews indicated that the NA's conduct did not align with the facility's policies on resident rights and professional behavior. The NA engaged in a verbal exchange with the resident, raising her voice and repeating the resident's foul language, rather than de-escalating the situation or maintaining professionalism. The incident was reported to supervisory staff, who acknowledged that the NA's actions were unprofessional and did not uphold the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity.