A nursing assistant observes a colleague grabbing a resident's arm roughly during a transfer and telling the resident to 'stop being so difficult.' The resident looks frightened and has a small bruise on the arm afterward. What is the nursing assistant's responsibility?
- A.Speak privately with the colleague first before reporting to anyone
- B.Document the observation in the resident's chart without reporting verbally
- C.Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately and follow facility reporting protocol
- D.Assume the colleague was having a bad day and monitor the situation for a week
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer
C. Report the observation to the charge nurse immediately and follow facility reporting protocol
Rationale
C is correct: Nursing assistants are mandatory reporters. Observing rough handling, an intimidating statement, a frightened resident, and a resulting bruise constitutes reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect. The nursing assistant is legally and ethically obligated to report this to the charge nurse immediately and follow the facility's abuse reporting protocol. A is incorrect: Confronting the colleague first may jeopardize the investigation, put the resident at further risk, and delay mandatory reporting. B is incorrect: Documentation is part of the process but does not substitute for immediate verbal reporting; a supervisor must be notified so protective action can be taken. D is incorrect: Monitoring for a week while a resident is at risk of continued abuse violates mandatory reporting obligations and exposes the resident to ongoing harm.
Key concepts