CNA Mocked Resident's Cry for Help, Violating Dignity Standards
Penalty
Summary
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) was observed engaging in unprofessional and inappropriate behavior toward a resident with severe cognitive impairment, as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 6. The resident, who has a known behavior pattern of yelling and screaming for help in Spanish, was calling out 'ayudame' when the CNA approached, got down to the resident's level, and repeatedly mimicked the resident's cries for help while laughing. This interaction was witnessed by other staff members, including the Director of Staff Development (DSD) and the Administrator, both of whom described the CNA's actions as unprofessional and inappropriate. Facility records, including a 5-day report and policy on promoting and maintaining resident dignity, confirmed that the CNA's behavior did not align with the facility's standards for treating residents with respect and dignity. The policy specifically requires staff to speak respectfully to residents and to maintain or enhance each resident's quality of life by recognizing their individuality. The incident was documented as a failure to provide dignity and respect, with the potential to cause emotional distress to the resident involved.