Failure to Honor Resident Dignity and Privacy
Penalty
Summary
A certified nursing assistant (CNA) entered the room of a resident with diagnoses including depression and bipolar disorder, who was alert, oriented, and had intact cognition according to her most recent assessment. The CNA opened the resident's drawers without first obtaining permission, searching for diapers, despite not being assigned to the resident that day. When the resident objected to the CNA's actions, the CNA responded by stating, "You don't own these diapers." The resident reported the incident to a licensed nurse at the nursing station. While the resident was making this report, the CNA followed and directed inappropriate and vulgar language at the resident, telling her to "shut the f** up." Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Social Services, Director of Staff Development, and Director of Nursing, confirmed that staff are trained to respect resident rights and dignity, and that the CNA's actions were inconsistent with facility policy and expectations regarding resident privacy and respectful communication.