Failure to Knock and Request Permission Before Entering Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to honor residents' rights to dignity and privacy by not knocking or asking permission before entering the rooms of two residents. Both residents had severe cognitive impairments and were totally dependent on staff for activities of daily living. During an observation, a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) was seen entering the rooms of these residents without knocking or requesting permission, despite the residents being present in their beds at the time. Upon interview, the CNA acknowledged forgetting to knock and recognized the importance of doing so, as this is considered the residents' home. The Director of Nursing confirmed that facility policy requires staff to knock and request permission before entering any resident's room, emphasizing the need to respect residents' privacy and dignity. A review of the facility's policy further supported this expectation for staff behavior.