Resident Left Uncovered After Fall in Shower Room
Penalty
Summary
A resident with intact cognition who required moderate assistance with bathing and transfers experienced a fall in the shower room while being assisted by a nurse aide. The resident lost consciousness, collapsed onto the floor, and sustained a laceration to her right eyebrow with significant bleeding, bruising, and a skin tear to her right elbow. Staff assessed the resident and found a faint pulse, then called EMS. During this time, the resident remained nude and uncovered on the shower room floor. Neither the nurse aide nor the nurse covered the resident with a towel or sheet after the fall, and both later stated in interviews that they did not think to do so. When EMS arrived, the resident was still nude and uncovered, and the paramedic covered her with a sheet before transferring her to the stretcher. The paramedic noted that there were five staff members present in the room and expressed embarrassment for the resident being left exposed. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the resident should have been covered to maintain dignity.