Dismissive responses and medication pass concerns
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was treated with respect and dignity when an LVN repeatedly responded to his requests in a dismissive manner and directed him to go to his room or go outside and smoke. The resident was a male with diagnoses including acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, chronic pain due to trauma, major depressive disorder, COPD, anoxic brain damage, seizures, dysphagia, muscle weakness, muscle spasm, cognitive communication deficit, dysarthria, anarthria, and myoclonus. His annual MDS showed a BIMS score of 13, indicating intact cognition. He submitted a grievance stating the night nurse treated him like a kid and gave his medications last. The resident stated the LVN parked the medication cart in a way that blocked him from getting by in his wheelchair, and when he asked her to move it, she became upset and told him to go outside and smoke. He also stated that when he approached the nurse's station to ask for his medication, she told him to go to his room or go smoke, and that she often told him to wait and would have things ready when he returned. He reported that she skipped his room during medication pass and gave him his medications last between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Another resident stated she believed the LVN did not like him and had told him to wait when he asked for medications and a shower. During observation, the LVN was seen passing medications when the resident approached his doorway and asked for PRN pain medication; she told him she would look into it and told him to go back into his room and watch television. The LVN acknowledged telling him to go to his room so he could relax while she checked whether the medication was due, and she also acknowledged telling him to move away from a staff member and family member eating in the dining room and to go to his room or outside and smoke. The DON stated that sending the resident to his room or to smoke was not the appropriate way to redirect him and that it was not appropriate to redirect a resident from talking to staff eating in the dining room. The facility policy stated employees shall treat all residents with kindness, respect, and dignity, and that medication administration times are determined by resident need and benefit, not staff convenience.
Penalty
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