Resident Dignity Violated by RN's Rude Behavior During Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a registered nurse (RN) was reported to have been rude to a resident during direct care, specifically during a disagreement about the timing of a treatment to the resident's left toe. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 and required substantial assistance with activities of daily living due to multiple medical and mental health diagnoses, reported the incident to a licensed nurse and subsequently to the Director of Nursing (DON). The DON confirmed that the incident was discussed in a meeting with the resident and the Ombudsman present, and acknowledged that the RN's behavior constituted a violation of the resident's rights and dignity. The facility's policies on promoting and maintaining resident dignity, as well as resident rights, require all staff to treat residents with respect and dignity, regardless of their background or condition. Despite these policies, the RN's conduct during the care interaction failed to uphold these standards, resulting in the resident feeling disrespected and prompting her to report the incident. The administrator later confirmed that the RN's actions violated the resident's dignity and rights during the provision of care.