Failure to Protect Resident from Verbal Abuse by RN
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with schizophrenia, autism disorder, and excoriation disorder reported being verbally abused by an RN during wound care. The resident, who had a moderate cognitive impairment, filed a grievance stating that the RN yelled at him and told him that if he continued picking at his wounds, he would never be able to go back home. The RN admitted to raising her voice and telling the resident that his group home would not take him back until his wound was healed, referencing the group home's inability to provide the necessary level of care. The resident expressed fear that the RN would say or do something to prevent his return home and preferred not to interact with her. Facility leadership, including the DON and Administrator in Training, confirmed that the RN spoke negatively to the resident about a symptom of his diagnosed medical condition and that her actions constituted verbal abuse as defined by facility policy. The facility failed to implement policies and procedures to protect the resident from abuse, as required by regulation, resulting in a deficiency for not safeguarding residents from all forms of abuse, including verbal abuse.