[LoriAlabamaRN]

Oh my goodness... I am so so sorry. What happened???

[Bird2]

We had our survey about 3 weeks ago and I am thrilled to say that after 12 annual surveys this was the best one as far as the way we were treated. The surveys were polite, friendly, professional. The 3 tags we recieved were expected and thankfully they were D levels. The tried to tag us in another area but allowed me time to sit down with them and explain the reason for the way we handled the situation. Our facility at least this year did not feel that there was any agendas or that the Surveyors were out to get us.

[CapeCodMermaid]

Congrats on your good survey. We definitely felt they were "out to get us" especially in the area of pressure ulcers. One of them went on for 15 minutes about how she hated our documentation form...too bad, sister, it complies with the regs. Then when she couldn't tag me on that (I'm the wound queen) she had the unmitigated gaul to ask me why I was doing a wet to dry dressing on a pressure sore which had healthy tissue. I explained to her that this particular woman had been admitted to my facility with a stage FOUR ulcer on her buttocks. It was 7 x 7 cm wide and almost 4 cm deep. Now it is less than 1x1 and about 0.2 cm deep. I told her I would NOT change my treatment plan as long as the wound continued to heal....zowie...she wouldn't even give us any credit for the almost miraculous resolution of this woman's ulcer. To top it off, one of the corporate big wigs was there to 'help'. She was rude to my staff and counter productive and then...are you ready for this...she reported something to the DPH without checking with anyone in the facility...not the DNS..not the Administrator...not me...no one!! Sorry for the rant but first it was the Joint Commission Survey...a week later DPH...I have been working 12+ hour days for more than 2 weeks and it fries my nose (thank you Mumbles Menino mayor of the great city of Boston) to have to put up with corporate snakes.

[Nascar nurse]

CapeCod - I read your posts frequently and I am nearly convinced we work for the same corporation (some of these "consultants" are snakes in sheep skins). Anyway, try to keep your chin up. I'm feeling pretty burned out too and thinking maybe I just need a change out of LTC - maybe 20 years is enough! But what to do? I'm gonna PM you my corporate name - let me know if we are the same.

[Bird2]

Originally Posted by CapeCodMermaid

Congrats on your good survey. We definitely felt they were "out to get us" especially in the area of pressure ulcers. One of them went on for 15 minutes about how she hated our documentation form...too bad, sister, it complies with the regs. Then when she couldn't tag me on that (I'm the wound queen) she had the unmitigated gaul to ask me why I was doing a wet to dry dressing on a pressure sore which had healthy tissue. I explained to her that this particular woman had been admitted to my facility with a stage FOUR ulcer on her buttocks. It was 7 x 7 cm wide and almost 4 cm deep. Now it is less than 1x1 and about 0.2 cm deep. I told her I would NOT change my treatment plan as long as the wound continued to heal....zowie...she wouldn't even give us any credit for the almost miraculous resolution of this woman's ulcer. To top it off, one of the corporate big wigs was there to 'help'. She was rude to my staff and counter productive and then...are you ready for this...she reported something to the DPH without checking with anyone in the facility...not the DNS..not the Administrator...not me...no one!! Sorry for the rant but first it was the Joint Commission Survey...a week later DPH...I have been working 12+ hour days for more than 2 weeks and it fries my nose (thank you Mumbles Menino mayor of the great city of Boston) to have to put up with corporate snakes.

I would like to congratulate you on the "miraculous resolution" of the healing stage 4. Although the treatment is not the norm you have obviously sucessful. Good for you for knowing the regs and stating your case.

[SueNYC]

Im a new nurse and have been at the same facility for the last few months. Im the charge nurse for my floor but when staffing is short I do it all including meds. Its my first state survey and needless to say im extremely nervous. This thread has been helpful as to things to look for and expect etc. Quick question regarding finger sticks though. When you have to do them and resident is out of room, are you supposed to take the resident to a private area to do them too?

[CapeCodMermaid]

Anything has to be done in a private area...fingersticks, apical pulses, eye meds. The only way to get around this is to document in the care plan that the resident does not want to have to go all the way back to his or her room for a fingerstick.