Failure to Separate Resident from Visitor After Alleged Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its abuse policy when it did not immediately separate a visitor from a resident after an alleged altercation was reported. An LPN reported that in the early morning hours, a resident approached the nurse's station crying and stated that a visitor, who was a family member of another resident, was being mean to her. The LPN went to the resident's room and found the visitor cursing at the resident. The LPN informed the visitor that visiting hours were over and asked her to leave, but left the room before confirming the visitor had actually exited, leaving the resident and visitor alone together for several minutes. Shortly after, the resident again approached the nurse's station in distress, reporting that her bed was soaked. Upon investigation, the LPN found the resident's bed completely drenched and took photographs, suspecting the incident was not self-inflicted. The LPN acknowledged that she should have ensured the resident and visitor were separated immediately after the initial report of the altercation. The facility's administrator confirmed that policy requires immediate separation of the alleged perpetrator and victim in such situations, and the facility's abuse prevention policy mandates immediate protection of residents involved in possible abuse, including separation from accused individuals not employed by the facility.