Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Communication Standards
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to uphold resident dignity and respect by not addressing a resident by their preferred name and by using inappropriate terms of endearment. Specifically, a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) was observed calling a resident "honey" on multiple occasions when the resident was requesting medication. The resident had an intact thought process and required moderate assistance with activities of daily living. The LVN acknowledged using the term and admitted that it was not appropriate unless it was care planned and the resident's preference. The Director of Nursing confirmed that staff should always address residents by their names as a matter of dignity, as outlined in the facility's policy. Additionally, several Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and an Occupational Therapist were observed conversing in a dialect other than English in the hallways near resident rooms. The CNAs admitted that they should communicate in English in resident areas to ensure all residents feel included and respected, as not all residents understand their dialect. The Director of Nursing reiterated that staff are expected to speak English in resident areas, in accordance with the facility's communication courtesy policy.