Failure to Immediately Remove Staff Following Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to immediately implement protective interventions following an allegation of abuse made by a resident against a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA). According to the report, a resident with a history of Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, and dementia, who had moderate cognitive impairment, alleged that a GNA hit them with a metal rod. The resident called 911, prompting police and EMS to respond to the facility. The facility's policy requires immediate suspension or corrective action for any employee accused of abuse, but the GNA in question was allowed to complete their scheduled shift after the allegation was made. Interviews and documentation confirmed that the GNA worked from late evening until the following morning, despite the abuse allegation being reported during the shift. The Director of Nursing and the Administrator both acknowledged that the GNA should have been sent home immediately after the allegation was made, but this did not occur due to an oversight. The failure to remove the accused staff member from duty immediately after the allegation was reported resulted in non-compliance with the facility's abuse prevention policy.