Failure to Treat Resident with Dignity and Respect Due to Inappropriate Staff Conduct
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) made repeated comments to a resident with dementia and major depressive disorder, knowing that the resident was fearful of the President of the United States (POTUS). The CNA told the resident that the POTUS was going to come into her room at night and attack her, and continued to make jokes about the POTUS coming to get her. This was confirmed by witness statements from staff and the resident, who reported increased anxiety, fear, and an inability to sleep in her room, instead staying in the common area for several hours due to distress. The resident's care plan indicated a history of paranoid delusions, verbal aggression, and sensitivity to overstimulation, with specific interventions to maintain a calm environment and avoid triggers. Staff were aware that political discussions, especially those involving the POTUS, could escalate the resident's anxiety and delusional thinking. Despite this, the CNA engaged in behavior that directly contradicted the care plan and facility policy, which required residents to be treated with respect, kindness, and dignity. Documentation in the resident's progress notes did not reflect the incident or the resident's fear and change in behavior on the night in question. Interviews with staff confirmed that the CNA's actions were inappropriate and not respectful or dignified. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that staff were instructed not to discuss politics around the resident due to her known triggers, and verified that the CNA's conduct was not in line with expected standards of resident care.