Resident Left Uncovered During Care, Compromising Dignity
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severely impaired cognition and multiple medical conditions, including urinary retention, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anxiety, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and peripheral vascular disease, was left uncovered in bed wearing only an incontinence brief. During morning care, two CNAs were providing personal hygiene and catheter care. After removing the resident's blanket and incontinence brief, one CNA realized there were no wipes available for catheter care and asked the other CNA to retrieve them. While waiting for the wipes, the resident remained uncovered and expressed discomfort, stating he was freezing and asking to be covered. The CNA did not cover the resident and waited by the bedside until the wipes were brought back, after which care continued and the resident was eventually covered. The resident's care plan indicated a need for assistance with bed mobility, personal hygiene, and catheter care, and the facility's policy required residents to be treated with dignity and respect. The failure to cover the resident while no care was being provided resulted in a lack of dignity and respect for the resident, as observed and documented by surveyors.