Failure to Provide Privacy Covers for Urinary Catheter Bags
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide privacy covers for urinary catheter bags for two residents, both of whom had indwelling catheters due to neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder. One resident, a male with paraplegia and intact cognition, was observed without a privacy cover on his catheter bag while staff stated that covers would be used when available. The other resident, a female with cerebral palsy and severe cognitive impairment, was also observed multiple times in common areas without a privacy cover on her catheter bag, despite physician orders specifying that a privacy bag should be in place at all times. Staff interviews confirmed that privacy covers were expected to be used, and that their absence was considered a dignity and privacy issue. Further observations revealed that privacy covers were sometimes found in residents' rooms but not in use, and staff indicated that covers could be misplaced, soiled, or removed by residents themselves. The Director of Nursing and other staff acknowledged the importance of privacy covers for maintaining resident dignity, but the facility did not have a policy addressing the use of privacy covers for urinary catheters. The lack of consistent use of privacy covers resulted in a failure to treat residents with respect and dignity, and did not promote the maintenance or enhancement of their quality of life.