Resident Subjected to Psychological Abuse by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and an unlicensed staff member required a resident diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia to unclog her own toilet, which contained urine and feces, using her gloved hands. The CNA instructed the resident to perform this task while the door to her room was intentionally left open, despite the resident's request for privacy. The CNA justified her actions by stating she was trying to teach the resident a lesson, and the unlicensed staff member confirmed the incident occurred as described. The resident reported feeling embarrassed, humiliated, and victimized by the incident, which negatively impacted her psychological well-being. At the time, the resident had no memory impairment, depression, hallucinations, or behavioral symptoms according to her Minimum Data Set assessment. The facility's policy prohibits all forms of abuse, including mental abuse, and commits to preventing such incidents. The actions of the CNA and unlicensed staff directly violated the resident's right to be free from psychological abuse.