Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, resident and staff interviews, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure one of 2 sampled residents (#2) were not verbally abused by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/Staff#207). The deficient practice could result in residents being emotionally harmed.
Findings include:
Resident #2 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses that included hypertension, multiple sclerosis, anxiety disorder, and paraplegia.
There was no evidence in the clinical record that the care plan had been updated regarding an allegation of abuse that occurred on November 19, 2022.
A Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE], revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15, which indicated intact cognition. The assessment also indicated no behaviors were exhibited.
Further review of the resident ' s clinical record from November 19, 2022 through February 21, 2022 revealed no evidence of the verbal abuse allegation that occurred on November 19, 2022.
Review of a facility investigation dated November 24, 2022, revealed that a verbal altercation occurred on November 19, 2022 between a LPN (Staff #207) and Resident #2. The allegation was reported by Resident #2 on November 19, 2022. The investigation revealed that the LPN told the facility she felt mocked by Resident #2 for her medication delivery and that the resident made her feel like she was not a nurse and during the investigation the LPN resigned. The facility investigation also revealed that another resident across the hall stated that he heard the nurse say you are not human, you are a monkey multiple times to Resident #2. The facility substantiated the investigation.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 10:16 a.m. with the previous Executive Director and Abuse Coordinator (Previous ED/Staff#209), who stated that he recalled that the LPN had assaulted Resident #2 verbally, and stated the resident was a monkey and less than human. Staff #209 stated that Resident #2' s roommate corroborated the story and when he confronted the perpetrator, she did not deny that she had said it, and told him I may have said something like that. Staff #209 stated that he did substantiate the allegation because the facility identified that the nurse was inappropriate toward the resident.
An attempt was made to contact the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/Staff#208) who was named as a witness in the investigation on February 20, 2025 at 10:23 a.m., and there was no response.
An attempt was made to call the perpetrator (LPN/staff #207), on February 20, 2025 at 10:24 a.m., however, there was no response.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 10:59 a.m. with Resident #2 who stated that the nurse LPN (staff #207), entered her room to administer pain medication, and when the resident declined to take the medication the LPN went into a rage and called the resident a monkey and less than a human being. Resident #2 stated that her roommate overheard the incident, as well as several other residents in the hall, and her roommate thought the nurse stated don't mock me. Resident #2 stated that when the roommate said that, Staff #207 overheard, and came back into the room to clarify to both residents that she did actually say monkey and that Resident #2 was less than human, before repeating it 5-6 more times. Resident #2 stated that she immediately called the previous Executive Director (staff #209), and the nurse was immediately taken off the floor and terminated. Resident #2 stated that she ultimately felt she was supported and protected by the facility, but she did feel violated and unsafe following the incident.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 12:50 p.m. with the Director of Nursing (DON/Staff#189) who stated that abuse was considered anything that made a patient feel unsafe, abuse was not allowed to occur in the facility, and staff should never yell at residents or call them names. The DON stated that if an abuse allegation were made, they would need to report and investigate immediately, and remove the employee to protect the patient from harm. Staff #189 stated that an allegation of abuse would need to be documented in the clinical record in the form of a progress note.
Review of a policy titled, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation or Misappropriation revealed that residents have the right to be free from abuse, which includes verbal abuse. The policy revealed that the facility needed to develop and implement policies to prevent and identify abuse and ensure adequate staffing to prevent burnout, stressful working situations, and high turnover rates.
Review of a policy titled, Charting and Documentation, revealed that any changes to the resident ' s medical, physical, functional, or psychosocial condition should have been documented in the resident ' s medical record including incidents and events regarding the resident.
Findings include:
Resident #2 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses that included hypertension, multiple sclerosis, anxiety disorder, and paraplegia.
There was no evidence in the clinical record that the care plan had been updated regarding an allegation of abuse that occurred on November 19, 2022.
A Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE], revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15, which indicated intact cognition. The assessment also indicated no behaviors were exhibited.
Further review of the resident ' s clinical record from November 19, 2022 through February 21, 2022 revealed no evidence of the verbal abuse allegation that occurred on November 19, 2022.
Review of a facility investigation dated November 24, 2022, revealed that a verbal altercation occurred on November 19, 2022 between a LPN (Staff #207) and Resident #2. The allegation was reported by Resident #2 on November 19, 2022. The investigation revealed that the LPN told the facility she felt mocked by Resident #2 for her medication delivery and that the resident made her feel like she was not a nurse and during the investigation the LPN resigned. The facility investigation also revealed that another resident across the hall stated that he heard the nurse say you are not human, you are a monkey multiple times to Resident #2. The facility substantiated the investigation.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 10:16 a.m. with the previous Executive Director and Abuse Coordinator (Previous ED/Staff#209), who stated that he recalled that the LPN had assaulted Resident #2 verbally, and stated the resident was a monkey and less than human. Staff #209 stated that Resident #2' s roommate corroborated the story and when he confronted the perpetrator, she did not deny that she had said it, and told him I may have said something like that. Staff #209 stated that he did substantiate the allegation because the facility identified that the nurse was inappropriate toward the resident.
An attempt was made to contact the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/Staff#208) who was named as a witness in the investigation on February 20, 2025 at 10:23 a.m., and there was no response.
An attempt was made to call the perpetrator (LPN/staff #207), on February 20, 2025 at 10:24 a.m., however, there was no response.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 10:59 a.m. with Resident #2 who stated that the nurse LPN (staff #207), entered her room to administer pain medication, and when the resident declined to take the medication the LPN went into a rage and called the resident a monkey and less than a human being. Resident #2 stated that her roommate overheard the incident, as well as several other residents in the hall, and her roommate thought the nurse stated don't mock me. Resident #2 stated that when the roommate said that, Staff #207 overheard, and came back into the room to clarify to both residents that she did actually say monkey and that Resident #2 was less than human, before repeating it 5-6 more times. Resident #2 stated that she immediately called the previous Executive Director (staff #209), and the nurse was immediately taken off the floor and terminated. Resident #2 stated that she ultimately felt she was supported and protected by the facility, but she did feel violated and unsafe following the incident.
An interview was conducted on February 20, 2025 at 12:50 p.m. with the Director of Nursing (DON/Staff#189) who stated that abuse was considered anything that made a patient feel unsafe, abuse was not allowed to occur in the facility, and staff should never yell at residents or call them names. The DON stated that if an abuse allegation were made, they would need to report and investigate immediately, and remove the employee to protect the patient from harm. Staff #189 stated that an allegation of abuse would need to be documented in the clinical record in the form of a progress note.
Review of a policy titled, Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation or Misappropriation revealed that residents have the right to be free from abuse, which includes verbal abuse. The policy revealed that the facility needed to develop and implement policies to prevent and identify abuse and ensure adequate staffing to prevent burnout, stressful working situations, and high turnover rates.
Review of a policy titled, Charting and Documentation, revealed that any changes to the resident ' s medical, physical, functional, or psychosocial condition should have been documented in the resident ' s medical record including incidents and events regarding the resident.