Failure to Knock Before Entering Resident Rooms
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff knocked before entering the rooms of four residents, affecting residents #11, #3, #13, and #29. During observations on July 22, 2026, staff #339 entered each of these residents’ rooms without knocking while preparing and administering medications. For resident #29, staff prepared medications, performed hand hygiene, and entered the room without knocking. For resident #3, staff prepared medications, performed hand hygiene, and entered the room without knocking. For resident #13, medications were prepared, hand hygiene was performed, and staff entered the room without knocking. For resident #11, staff prepared the medication cup, performed hand hygiene, and entered the room without knocking. The residents involved had varying cognitive and medical conditions. Resident #29 had diagnoses including COPD, hypertension, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, type 2 DM, shortness of breath, atrial fibrillation, anticoagulant use, unsteadiness, and muscle weakness, and had a BIMS score of 15 indicating cognitive intactness. Resident #3 had diagnoses including hypertension, insomnia, depression, polyneuropathy, muscle weakness, unsteadiness, gait abnormalities, lack of coordination, and osteoarthritis, with a BIMS score of 8 indicating moderate cognitive impairment. Resident #13 had Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 DM, anxiety disorder, chronic pain, hypertension, insomnia, difficulty walking, repeated falls, and osteoporosis, with memory problems noted on the MDS. Resident #11 had atrial fibrillation, hypertension, anxiety disorder, cerebral infarction without residual deficits, and heart failure, with a BIMS score of 13. Interviews confirmed that staff understood the expectation to knock before entering resident rooms. The LPN stated staff should sanitize hands and knock before entering, regardless of whether the door is open or shut, and should introduce themselves to preserve privacy. The CNA stated staff should always knock and introduce themselves, and noted that failing to do so could startle residents or trigger those with behavioral health diagnoses. Staff #339 stated she would knock only if the door was closed and acknowledged that she entered rooms without knocking when the door was open, stating she should have knocked and that privacy could be impacted. The interim DON stated staff should knock and introduce themselves before entering resident rooms, and the facility policy titled Resident Rights, Accommodations, and Responsibilities stated that team members will knock and request permission before entering a resident’s room.
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