Failure to Protect Resident After Staff Reported Alleged Abuse by RN
Penalty
Summary
Staff reported concerns regarding the behavior of a Registered Nurse (RN) towards a resident who was agitated. On the day of the incident, multiple staff members notified the Director of Nursing (DON) via text messages that the RN was engaging in escalating behavior with the resident, including flapping her arms at the resident and verbally provoking the resident to hit her. Written statements later indicated that the RN physically put her hands on the resident, placed the resident in their room, closed the door, and held it shut. Despite these reports, the DON's initial response was to instruct the RN to complete an incident report and follow up with Work Health, without immediately removing the RN from resident care or initiating a thorough investigation at that time. The RN continued to provide care to the resident throughout the weekend following the incident, as confirmed by timecard records and staff interviews. The DON did not begin collecting written statements from involved staff until two days after the incident, delaying the facility's investigation. The resident was sent to the hospital following the incident, and upon return, care was reassigned, but the RN insisted on continuing to care for the resident. The facility failed to protect the resident after being notified of staff concerns about the RN's behavior, allowing the RN to remain in direct care of the resident despite allegations of abuse.