Failure to Maintain Dignity and Proper Assistance During Mealtime
Penalty
Summary
A certified nurse aide (CNA) was observed assisting a resident who required help with eating. The resident was in bed waiting for assistance with lunch, and the CNA provided help while standing, rather than sitting as required by facility policy. The CNA fed the resident four to five spoonfuls of food and sips of juice, spending only five minutes on the task before removing the lunch tray. There was no effort made to encourage the resident to eat more, despite the resident's known need for encouragement and assistance during meals. Interviews with the CNA and a registered nurse (RN) confirmed that the facility's policy requires staff to sit while assisting residents with meals to promote comfort and dignity, and to allow residents sufficient time to eat without feeling rushed. The facility's Feeding Impaired Residents policy specifically instructs staff to allow residents plenty of time to eat, not to rush them, and to continue assisting until the resident has finished or had enough food. The observed actions did not align with these requirements, resulting in a failure to maintain the resident's dignity and right to self-determination during mealtime.