Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a registered nurse (RN) failed to maintain a resident's dignity during wound care. Specifically, the RN wrote on the dressing after it had already been placed on the resident's right heel. This action was observed during a wound care procedure and was later confirmed by the RN in an interview. The facility's policy on dignity requires that each resident be cared for in a manner that promotes their sense of well-being and self-worth. The resident involved had a medical history including high blood pressure, diabetes, and dementia, and was admitted with a pressure ulcer on the right heel. Physician orders specified a detailed wound care regimen for the pressure ulcer, but the deficiency occurred when the RN wrote on the dressing post-application, which did not align with the facility's dignity policy. This incident was cited as a failure to provide care in a manner that maintains resident dignity.