Failure to Provide Privacy Cover for Foley Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a male resident, recently readmitted from the hospital with a diagnosis including benign prostatic hyperplasia, sepsis, and osteomyelitis, was observed with his Foley catheter bag hanging uncovered and visible from his bed. The resident, who was cognitively intact and able to express his needs, was unaware that his catheter bag was not covered and expressed a preference for it to have been concealed. The facility's staff confirmed that the resident was admitted with the catheter system in place and that the hospital had not provided a privacy cover for the bag. Despite the facility's policy and staff training emphasizing the importance of maintaining resident dignity and privacy, the nursing staff failed to place a privacy cover on the resident's Foley catheter bag upon admission. The responsibility to ensure the catheter bag was covered fell to the nursing staff, who admitted to forgetting this step due to a busy shift with multiple admissions. The omission was not corrected during subsequent rounds, and the bag remained uncovered until it was brought to the attention of the staff during the surveyor's observation. Interviews with the RN, DON, and Administrator confirmed that the oversight was due to staff being occupied with other tasks and not following through with established protocols for resident privacy. The facility's own policies and recent in-service training highlighted the need to protect resident dignity by covering catheter bags, but these were not adhered to in this instance, resulting in a lapse in the resident's right to privacy.