Failure to Ensure Resident Dignity and Privacy During Room Entry
Penalty
Summary
Staff at the facility failed to consistently honor residents' rights to dignity and privacy by not following established protocols when entering resident rooms. Observations and interviews revealed that staff frequently entered rooms without knocking, introducing themselves, or waiting for permission to enter. Specific incidents included staff entering rooms after only a single knock without waiting for a response, entering without any knock or introduction, and failing to announce their presence or purpose. Residents with both intact and impaired cognition expressed discomfort and dissatisfaction with these actions, citing feelings of disrespect and loss of privacy, especially during personal care activities. Multiple staff members, including nursing assistants and LPNs, acknowledged during interviews that the expectation is to knock, introduce themselves, and wait for permission before entering a resident's room, in accordance with facility policy and resident rights. Despite this, direct observations showed repeated lapses in this practice across several residents. The facility's own policy emphasizes the right to personal privacy, including accommodations and personal care, but these standards were not consistently upheld during the survey period.