Failure to Provide Routine Fingernail Care
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide routine fingernail care for one resident who was unable to trim their own nails. The resident, who was moderately impaired in decision-making according to a recent BIMS assessment, was observed on multiple occasions to have fingernails approximately 1/4 inch long. Although the resident's care plan indicated that activities of daily living and personal care would be completed with staff support as appropriate, the resident reported that staff had not recently offered to trim their nails and that they were unable to do it themselves. Interviews with staff revealed that CNAs were responsible for trimming fingernails unless the resident was diabetic, in which case a nurse would perform the task. Both LPN and CNA staff acknowledged that the resident's nails were long and needed trimming, and that nail care was typically assessed daily, especially on shower days. Facility policy required daily grooming, including nail care, but this was not provided as needed for the resident in question.