Resident Physically Abused by CNA During Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) physically abused a resident by forcefully pushing the resident down onto the bed. The incident was witnessed by another CNA, who reported that the resident was standing beside his bed and refusing assistance when the CNA entered the room and pushed him hard enough to cause him to fall backward onto the bed. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 14 and had a history of cerebral infarction, confirmed at the time of the incident that the CNA had pushed him. During a subsequent interview, the resident became withdrawn and did not wish to discuss the event further. The facility's Abuse Prohibition Policy defines physical abuse to include actions such as shoving and requires immediate reporting and removal of accused staff from resident care duties pending investigation. Peer interviews revealed that some staff had previously heard the CNA speak roughly to residents. The CNA involved denied the allegation during a phone interview, stating she only assisted the resident, but documentation and witness statements substantiated the occurrence of physical abuse. The CNA had received abuse-prevention training prior to the incident.