Delay in Incontinence Care and Resident Dignity
Penalty
Summary
A resident with intact cognition and a history of anemia, hip fracture, muscle weakness, and incontinence requested assistance after wetting her pants. The resident, who required moderate to maximal assistance with personal care and was dependent with toileting, approached an LPN in the hallway and asked for help. The LPN informed the resident that a CNA would assist her but did not call for immediate help or provide assistance herself, instead continuing to administer medications to other residents. The resident repeated her request, but the LPN again deferred action, only activating the resident's call light and instructing the resident to wait in her room. The resident propelled herself to her room and waited. The LPN eventually asked the CNA to assist the resident when available, but the CNA prioritized other tasks and did not immediately respond. The CNA attended to other residents' needs before finally entering the resident's room to provide incontinence care approximately 13 minutes after the initial request. During this time, the resident expressed feeling bad and perceived that the nurse did not want to help her. The resident's care plan directed staff to provide incontinence care as needed, and facility policy required staff to treat residents with dignity and respect.