Failure to Protect Residents from Verbal Abuse by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect residents from verbal abuse by staff, as evidenced by multiple interviews and record reviews involving two cognitively intact residents. One resident reported that a night shift LPN raised her voice, spoke in a demeaning and intimidating manner, and responded sarcastically when questioned about a new medication, making the resident feel degraded, afraid, and intimidated. The resident's roommate confirmed the LPN's loud and intimidating behavior, and another resident described the nurse as using a rough tone, talking down to residents, and using her authority to intimidate. Both residents expressed that the nurse's conduct was inappropriate and made them feel uncomfortable and fearful. Staff interviews corroborated the residents' accounts, with a CNA reporting that the same LPN was extremely negative, loud, vulgar, and insulting to both staff and residents during the shift in question. The CNA recalled the LPN using profane language towards staff and described her as intimidating. The facility scheduler confirmed that the CNA, who rarely complains, reported verbal abuse by the LPN, including cursing and name-calling. The Director of Nursing stated she had not been informed of the incident but noted a second, unrelated complaint about the same LPN's verbal abuse towards staff on the same night. The facility's policy prohibits abuse, neglect, and exploitation, but the events described indicate a failure to implement these protections.