Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity by Not Covering Urinary Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with moderate cognitive impairment and an indwelling urinary catheter was observed lying in bed with the urinary catheter drainage bag, containing urine, hanging on the bed frame and visible from the hallway. Facility policy requires that urinary catheter bags be kept covered to maintain resident dignity. Staff interviews confirmed that catheter drainage bags are expected to have privacy covers, but in this instance, the resident's bag did not have one, resulting in a failure to uphold the resident's right to dignity as outlined in facility policy and state regulations. The resident involved had a diagnosis of neurogenic bladder and required an indwelling urinary catheter, as documented in the admission MDS assessment. The lack of a privacy cover for the catheter bag was confirmed by both an LPN and the Nursing Home Administrator during interviews.