Resident Dignity Violated by LPN's Derogatory Remark
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) failed to respect a resident's dignity by calling the resident "dumb" during an interaction. The incident began when the resident requested a pain pill and subsequently became upset, raising their voice at a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). The LPN and CNA assisted the resident with a Hoyer lift, during which the resident expressed that the nurse did not care about them. The LPN attempted to reassure the resident but ultimately responded to the resident's question about being dumb by saying, "are you dumb, no you are not," though the resident did not understand the response. Multiple witness statements confirmed that the LPN used the word "dumb" in reference to the resident, and the resident reported feeling hurt and upset by the comment, stating that being called dumb was particularly painful due to past experiences. Further witness accounts indicated that the LPN engaged in an argument with the resident, accusing the resident of making negative reports to management. The LPN was reported to have raised their voice, told the resident not to ask for anything further, and made additional derogatory remarks. The resident was visibly upset, expressed a desire to change rooms to avoid the LPN, and reported the incident to the facility's administration. Staff who interacted with the resident after the incident observed that the resident was crying, angry, and emotionally distressed, which was noted to be out of character for the resident. The facility's policy on resident rights, which mandates that all residents be treated with dignity and respect, was not followed in this instance. The Interim Director of Nursing acknowledged that calling a resident dumb would be a violation of the resident's dignity. The incident was reported and investigated, with staff and administrative interviews confirming the resident's account and the inappropriate conduct of the LPN.