Failure to Protect Resident from Verbal Mistreatment by LPN
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of falls was not protected from verbal mistreatment by staff. The resident, who required maximal assistance with transfers and had a care plan addressing cognitive loss and fall risk, became confused and attempted to get out of bed during the night. According to a nursing assistant's written statement and the alert roommate's report, an LPN responded to the situation by expressing frustration and making inappropriate comments, including telling the resident to go ahead and fall and break their hip so they could be sent out. The incident was reported to the RN supervisor later that morning. Facility documentation and interviews confirmed that the roommate, who was alert and oriented, witnessed and reported the LPN's threatening remarks. The resident involved had no recollection of the incident and showed no distress, likely due to their cognitive impairment. Despite the facility's incident summary initially stating the allegation was not substantiated, the Director of Nursing Services later acknowledged that the allegation was substantiated. The facility's abuse prevention policy affirms residents' rights to be free from verbal abuse.