Failure to Prevent Verbal Abuse of Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect residents from verbal abuse, as evidenced by multiple incidents involving two residents. In one case, a resident with a diagnosis of pain and a BIMS score indicating cognitive intactness requested pain medication from a CNA, after which an RN entered the room and yelled at the resident, stating she was always asking for pain medicine and would receive it only when the RN was ready. The RN was also reported to have made threatening remarks such as, 'You better be good today or else.' Multiple staff members, including the Corporate Nurse and MDS Nurse, overheard the RN speaking loudly and rudely to the resident, with statements like, 'We not gonna do this today. I always give you your pain medicine, but today you gonna learn. I will give it to you when I get ready,' and, 'You're in pain, you gonna stay in pain. You gonna be nasty to me, I'll be nasty to you.' These interactions were corroborated by witness statements and interviews. In another incident, a resident's representative reported overhearing a nurse respond disrespectfully after the resident, who required assistance with personal care, used the call light without response and soiled herself. The nurse reportedly told the resident, 'I heard you calling, but you can just sit in it.' This complaint was documented in the facility's grievance log. Both incidents demonstrate a failure to ensure residents were free from verbal abuse, as required by facility policy and resident rights regulations.