Failure to Ensure Resident and Staff Identification for Dignity and Rights
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to honor a resident’s rights to dignity, self-determination, and communication by not ensuring proper room identification and staff identification. A cognitively intact female resident with acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, who was dependent on staff for all self-care activities, had been moved from an isolation hall to a new room. Surveyor observation showed that the nameplate outside this resident’s new room was missing despite the room being occupied, and the door was closed. When the door opened, two staff members exited, including a CNA who was not wearing a name tag. The resident’s care plan indicated she required increased dependence on staff for activities, cognitive stimulation, and social interaction, and that she had communication challenges related to being hard of hearing and needing longer time to process information. During interviews, the resident reported that not all staff wore name tags or identified themselves when asked, and she stated she wanted to know staff names to know who was providing her care. The ADON confirmed the resident had been moved from an isolation room and stated that when a resident moves, their name should be placed on the new room’s nameplate so staff know whom they are caring for, noting the risk of not identifying the right person. A CNA stated staff were trained to knock and identify themselves when entering a room and that missing nameplates and lack of identification could scare residents and affect documentation and care. Another CNA admitted she had forgotten her name tag in her car and acknowledged the importance of name tags for resident identification and rights to dignity, respect, and a safe space. The DON and Administrator both stated that residents have a right to dignity, that their room is their home, and that staff are expected to knock, introduce themselves, and wear name tags as part of the uniform. Policy review showed the Resident Rights policy required employees to treat residents with kindness, respect, and dignity, and the Dress Code policy required employees to wear a name tag to identify themselves and prevent unauthorized individuals from being in the location.
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