"undercover" patients in New Mexico

Da Monk · Oct 5, 2004

I'd like to add that in my subspecialty, psychiatric nursing, so-called customer service initiatives have led to poor patient care at times by eroding the ability of the nurse to make effective confrontational interventions. When a personality disordered patient is confronted, he or she complains about the nurse which leads to management chastizing the nurse, apologizing to the patient, and, therefore, allowing the patient to split. This has the effect of reinforcing negative behavior patterns in nurse and patient and is not a therapeutic situation for the patient nor the nurse. It is prohibitive of change in the patient and fosters distancing of the nurse from the patient. Herein lies the reason psychiatric patients say psych nurses only pass out pills nowadays. But, management only cares that the patient goes home and tells friends what a great time was had in the hospital. Growth is painful, sometimes.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2004

I think these undercover patients who allow invasive procedures to be done on themselves deserve a psych eval. The adminstrators who approve of this tactic in getting data about their facility by wasting supplies, manpower hours, genuine revenue lost for that bed taken up by the fake patient, and denying access to a genuine patient in need...should lose his/her job for mismanagement...what bubble heads.

tmiller027 · Oct 5, 2004

My question is this:

If the state is SOOOOOO concerned about quality of care and staffing levels...THEY are the ones who can control the pt./staff ratios. I remember last year our facility cut back our evening shift by 2 people, leaving us really short. Their answer was "We're still within state guidelines".

They've since added the two aides back...probably after complaints shot up from poor care. But my point is, the states would be better using their resources to improve staffing....not on this "secret shopper" nonsense.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 5, 2004

What a horrible waste of resources that could be better used. I also agree, those allowing procedures done on them in the name of spying need a psych eval. They are certifiable.

oramar · Oct 5, 2004

I was quite suprised when the staff where I work now warned me about secret shoppers. I had never heard of it before.

SandraCVRN · Oct 5, 2004

First let me say I'm one of those folks that tries to see both sides of any situation. So in some ways it wouldn't bother me to have someone "spying" on me. I'm pretty organized, I hate for my pts IV to be beeping, or for someone to have to wait for pain meds, that I can run get in a couple minutes and then go back to what I'm doing. Granted there are always the cases when you just cannot get somewhere for 30 minutes. But on the other hand, I work with a few nurse that always run behind, the IV's are beeping on half their pts and if their pt gets pain meds in less than 45 minutes after asking for them it is a miracle.

As with most things.....it doesn't seem to be black and white IMO

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 5, 2004

ouch sandra, can you please shrink your signature a bit? it really hurts my eyes.

Farkinott, RN · Oct 5, 2004

I think this "program" is a ridiculous waste of time and resources!! It takes nurses away from the real patients. Shame on those who do this!
Ooohh this makes me so mad! :angryfire
Imagine being a patient in a hospital and your nurse cannot get to you because s/he is taking care of some a-hole who is just trying to cause trouble and "spy". I do not have the time for playacting patients. Thank God this cannot be implemented in my specialty. (I don't think the babies are going to write an article about the care...but if any of them ever did, I'd hate for it to read - I was hurting and scared, but my nurse was tied up taking care of a baby that was just pretending to be sick and couldn't get to me.)

I TOTALLY agree with you. This kind of s**t really pi**es me off! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

SandraCVRN · Oct 5, 2004

ouch sandra, can you please shrink your signature a bit? it really hurts my eyes.

For real? It shows up about 10 or 12 font to me.

Victoriakem · Oct 6, 2004

Having to apologize to a pt. who's judgment is already impaired with just plain crazy. It's so important to document what the pt is doing, like being reminded several times to bath, etc, when things like this happen, it's hard to stay in nursing when it can be so thankless. And you are trying your best to help that pt.