Verbal Abuse of Resident by LVN
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) verbally abused a resident by telling her to "shut up" during an interaction in the facility. The incident was witnessed by another staff member, who assisted the resident in reporting the event to the CNA supervisor. The resident, a female with diagnoses including encephalopathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, schizoaffective disorder, and depression, was cognitively intact according to her BIMS score and required partial to moderate assistance with transfers. The resident was visibly upset and crying when reporting the incident to the CNA supervisor. The facility's records confirmed that the LVN made the inappropriate statement to the resident, and the event was reported promptly by staff. The facility's policy states that residents have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and that employees suspected of abuse should be removed from resident care and suspended during investigation. The incident was documented in the Provider Investigation Report, and interviews with staff and other residents confirmed the occurrence of the verbal abuse and the subsequent reporting process.