Failure to Ensure Privacy for Foley Catheter Bag
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions, including diabetes, stroke, and hydronephrosis, was observed lying in bed with a foley catheter bag attached to the side of the bed without a privacy cover. The contents of the foley bag were visible from the open bedroom door. The resident's care plan and physician orders specified that the foley bag should be in a privacy bag while in bed or in a wheelchair. Despite this, the privacy cover was not in place during the observation. Interviews with staff revealed that the nurse assigned to the resident was aware of the missing privacy cover and had attempted to locate one but was unsuccessful, subsequently notifying the interim DON. The nurse confirmed that it was the responsibility of nursing staff to ensure privacy covers were used and that she had received training on this requirement. The administrator also confirmed that all foley catheter bags should have privacy covers or be positioned to maintain privacy, and that staff had been trained accordingly. However, the facility did not have a specific policy on privacy covers for foley bags, relying instead on a general resident rights policy.