Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene During Meal Assistance
Penalty
Summary
During a lunch observation in the activity room, a Restorative Nurse Assistant (RNA) was seen assisting two residents with their meals without performing hand hygiene before and after providing assistance. The RNA sat between the two residents, helped one with using a fork, and fed the other with a spoon, but failed to wash hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer as required by facility policy. The RNA acknowledged during the interview that assisting two residents simultaneously and neglecting hand hygiene could contribute to the spread of germs. Resident 3 had a history of cerebral atherosclerosis, dysphagia, and hypertension, and required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, including eating. Resident 4 had diagnoses of dysphagia following cerebral infarction, failure to thrive, and lack of coordination, and required supervision or touching assistance with eating. Both residents had care plans indicating the need for staff assistance during meals. The facility's hand hygiene policy required staff to perform hand hygiene before and after direct contact with residents and when assisting with meals, which was not followed in this instance.