Failure to Protect Resident from Physical Abuse by CNA
Penalty
Summary
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of dementia-related behavioral disturbances was subjected to physical abuse by a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The resident's care plan indicated a need for staff redirection and time to manage her behaviors, and her abuse risk assessment identified her as at risk due to her mental and behavioral changes. On the date of the incident, a Registered Nurse (RN) witnessed the CNA pulling the resident's hair and pushing her back into a chair. The CNA denied the incident, but the RN reported it to the appropriate parties and conducted a skin check, which revealed no injuries or signs of distress in the resident. The facility's investigation, based on the RN's eyewitness account, substantiated the abuse allegation. The resident was unable to be interviewed due to her cognitive impairment, but documentation confirmed her vulnerability and the need for specialized care. The facility's abuse policy prohibits all forms of abuse and outlines procedures for screening, training, prevention, identification, investigation, protection, and reporting. The incident was reported and documented as required, and the abuse was confirmed through the facility's internal processes.