Failure to Protect Nonverbal Resident from Verbal Abuse by RN
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a registered nurse (RN) verbally abused a nonverbal, cognitively impaired resident by yelling and swearing at the resident while transporting them in a wheelchair. The resident had diagnoses including dementia and aphasia, with both short and long-term memory problems and severe cognitive impairment, making them particularly vulnerable and unable to report abuse. The facility's own incident report confirmed that the RN used inappropriate language and admitted to being impatient and tired, but there was no evidence that interventions were in place to prevent such abuse, especially for nonverbal residents. Further review revealed that the facility failed to provide adequate supervision or monitoring of the RN's interactions with residents after the incident. Audit notes lacked details about which residents were interviewed, what questions were asked, or what was specifically observed regarding the RN's behavior. Staff interviews indicated that the RN was often impatient and in a hurry, but not necessarily mean. The Director of Nursing was unable to provide information on how the facility monitors for abuse among nonverbal residents or what measures are in place to protect them, highlighting a lack of effective oversight and preventive strategies.