HospitalInspections.org

Intakes: TN00034884

Based on facility policy, and interview, it was determined 2 of 5 (Registered Nurse (RN) #1 and Nurse Aide (NA) #1) employees interviewed failed to report possible abuse per facility policy requirements.

The findings included:

1. Review of the facility policy "Patient Neglect & Abuse Involving Employees" revealed, "...PROCEDURE...When a staff member becomes aware of a possible instance of abuse, they must immediately notify their supervisor or manager and the PAO [Patient Abuse Officer], or follow the formal reporting mechanism set forth in Section II... Hotline Reporting Mechanisms:...a report of possible patient neglect or abuse by a staff member may come from a variety of sources, including parents, patients, staff members, visitors or others outside the hospital. These reports may come through formal reporting mechanisms such as Parent Help Line, the EthicsPoint Hotline and the Human Resources Employee Relations Hotline. Reports may be made directly to the PAO through the hospital operator. Reports made through the EthicsPoint Hotline are anonymous..."

2. During an interview in a facility conference room on 1/6/15 at 11:05 AM, RN #1 was asked if she had ever witnessed abuse or neglect on her unit. She stated she had not observed abuse or neglect. RN #1 was asked if any employee had reported abuse to her, she stated "...she doesn't work here anymore...Nurse Aide...she said she had seen [named RN no longer employed at facility] 'do some stuff and it's not right'..." RN#1 further stated, "...did not report this to anybody...felt like it was too vague..."

During an interview in a facility conference room on 1/8/15 at 10:00 AM, NA #1 stated she had witnessed a male nurse who no longer worked at the facility treat minority patients differently. NA #1 stated it was not all black or Hispanic patients. She stated she had observed the nurse poke a patient and say "Hey kid" when trying to wake them up after sedation. NA #1 stated, "...never seen him strike them...push a little harder to wake [them] up..." The NA stated she did not report the concerns because she didn't know how it would affect her.

During an interview in a facility conference room on 1/8/15 at 10:35 AM, the Director of Quality Programming stated the facility had several avenues for reporting potential abuse including ways to report anonymously. She verified the concerns should have been reported.