Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Feeding Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to promote care in a dignified manner for a resident who required assistance with eating. The resident, who had diagnoses of dysphagia and malnutrition and was cognitively intact, was observed during breakfast being fed by a nurse aide who stood beside the bed rather than sitting at eye level. The resident was positioned at a 45-degree angle in bed, and although a folding chair was available in the room, the nurse aide did not use it. The resident later expressed that she did not like staff standing over her while assisting with feeding. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the nurse aide was unaware that standing while feeding a resident was a dignity issue, citing conflicting training from previous workplaces. The unit manager and director of nursing both stated that their expectation was for staff to sit at eye level with residents during feeding assistance to maintain dignity, but could not explain why this expectation was not met in this instance.