Failure to Document and Honor Resident's Gender Preference for Caregivers
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including Parkinson's disease and heart failure, who was cognitively intact and had an indwelling catheter, expressed a preference for only female caregivers to perform catheter and peri-care. Despite this preference being known among staff, there was no documentation in the clinical record or care plan reflecting the resident's request prior to the survey. Interviews with the resident and staff confirmed that the preference for female caregivers was understood, but not formally recorded. Review of the Medication Administration Record showed that catheter care was performed by male staff, including RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, on multiple occasions. The facility's policy on resident rights emphasized the importance of dignity, respect, and resident input into care planning, but this was not followed in practice for this resident. The Director of Nursing acknowledged awareness of the resident's preference, describing it as an intermittent issue, yet the lack of documentation and continued assignment of male staff to provide catheter care demonstrated a failure to accommodate the resident's stated needs and preferences.