Obstruction of Electronic Monitoring Device by RN
Penalty
Summary
A resident with impaired cognition, muscle wasting, and a recent right femur fracture was re-admitted to the facility and required assistance with personal care. The resident's power of attorney had authorized and installed a fixed-position, motion-activated video camera in the resident's room for electronic monitoring. On the date in question, video footage showed a registered nurse exiting the resident's bathroom, raising her hand to block her face from the camera, and then standing in front of the camera, which obscured the view of the resident as she was brought out of the bathroom. The camera, being motion-activated, stopped recording due to the obstruction. Facility policy on electronic monitoring explicitly prohibits intentional obstruction, tampering, or destruction of any electronic monitoring device or its recordings. The registered nurse later stated that her action was a reaction to the camera's recording light, as she disliked cameras. The Director of Nursing confirmed the incident after reviewing the video. This event demonstrated a failure to treat the resident with respect and dignity, as required by facility policy and resident rights.