Failure to Honor Resident Privacy and Dignity During Room Entry
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to treat a resident with dignity and respect by entering the resident's room without announcing themselves or being invited in. The resident, who had a diagnosis of Chronic Venous Hypertension with an ulcer and Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), had an intact cognitive status as indicated by a BIMS score of 14. The resident's care plan identified risks for decreased psychosocial well-being, emotional distress, and ineffective coping skills, with interventions to encourage expression of emotions and to observe for signs of distress. Despite these documented needs, staff repeatedly entered the resident's room and opened the privacy curtain without knocking, announcing, or waiting for an invitation, even after the resident specifically requested that staff wait for permission to enter. The resident reported feeling anxious and unsafe due to these actions, particularly as he occupied the bed farthest from the door and could be using the commode when staff entered unannounced. Interviews confirmed that staff were educated to knock and announce themselves before entering, and that specific resident requests should be communicated during shift reports. However, the resident's request for privacy and control over room entry was not consistently honored, resulting in ongoing distress and a lack of privacy for the resident.