Failure to Ensure Dignity and Respect Due to Unprofessional Conduct by Agency CNA
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were treated with dignity and respect, as evidenced by the actions of an agency CNA (V3) who provided care to two residents. On the specified date, V3 entered the residents' room without knocking or introducing himself, was not wearing professional attire or a name tag, and interacted with the residents in a manner that made them uncomfortable. One resident reported that V3, whom she had never seen before, was dressed in a black t-shirt with writing and did not announce his role, leading her to feel uneasy about receiving assistance from him. The other resident stated that V3 entered the room without knocking, did not introduce himself, and touched her head and face in a way that made her feel uncomfortable and surprised. She also described the conversation with V3 as inappropriate, as he asked her to guess his age. Interviews with other CNAs and the facility administrator confirmed that agency staff sometimes do not wear scrubs or name tags, and that residents have complained about this lack of professionalism. The administrator acknowledged that all staff, including agency personnel, are expected to wear scrubs, display name tags, and introduce themselves when entering residents' rooms. The failure of V3 to follow these protocols resulted in residents feeling disrespected and uncomfortable during care interactions.