Have you ever worked as a state surveyor?

Nurses Career Support

Published

Specializes in LTC.

Just curious Have any of you ever been a surveyor ? If so what kinds of things did you find on inspections and what tags did you give? Why don't surveyors tag for holes in mars or lack of charting? Especially on med A patients? I find tons of discrpencies every time I work and every survey the same stuff is missed? How do they miss such obvious things as much as they dig through charts? Or do they come in looking for specific things?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think they do have particular subjects they are looking for.....and i don't think holes in the MAR are a biggy until they rich a certain percentage...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

JCAHO says meds need to be prepared in a quiet, distraction free area. Why is a hospital passed when med carts live in the hallways just outside the nurses' station? It was a nightmare trying to think there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"why don't surveyors tag for holes in mars or lack of charting?"

what do you mean when you say "holes" ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
"why don't surveyors tag for holes in mars or lack of charting?"

what do you mean when you say "holes" ?

she means no initials. meds were not signed out. when you look at a mar, you will see a month of initials filled in for all three shifts. you may also see blanks dispersed throughout the mar on different days and shifts, in between these initials. these are holes...unsigned meds. peace!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LPN.

I would like to know if surveyors prey on weak looking nurses and cna's? i would like to know what I personally can do, to keep myself out of their firing line. It seems like the French Inquisition. Why can't they just look around, watch and take notes? I work nights, and last year they called me over the phone, during a horredous night, and I had a headache and my period, and began to fire weird questions at me during my 6am med pass. Not, that I want them in on my shift, but if your going to question me for an hour, at least have the decency to get out of your fluffy bed and do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

Has anyone here ever worked as a state sureyor or known one personally? What kinds of things did you tag and why? Did you go into a facility and know what to look for from the start? I notice alot of mistakes when I work on a regular basis..med errors, transcription errors, holes on mars, lab errors and lab order errors. Lack of documentation, incomplete assessments and tb tests that are not signed that they've been done or read or halfway done yet state never catches this stuff when they survey?

Why is this? Can they not tag for it? They always stay in the charts so hoe can all these things not jump out at them?

Did you like your job as a surveyor?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great question! Would love to get into this area! Please, tell us how! We find things every day to improve upon and this can cause us trouble in the working environment! Good for a sharp eye to be a surveyor as well or instead of being bedside nurse!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Surveyors come in all types...rude, caring, helpful, angry...outright snotty. I am very close to a former surveyor. He made a point of being compassionate and patient with the RNs, knowing that they are often victims of a poor system overall. I personally have seen very rude ones in tight skirts and high heels clicking there way around with little regard for us RNs...just checking and snubbing.

Jcho looks for certain things every year. They are ruled by the bigger administration, (can't remember the name right now)...but this larger one is the one which keeps track of the ERS systems and monitors for error. Then JCHO figures out what percentages of what areas need improvement nationwide, and mandates change measures..or sometimes only states where improvement is needed so the administrations can find their own proven best practice solutions. I think it works something like that.

I personally am very happy these regulatory systems exist despite the rude ways they can be carried out. Without regulations, hospitals will cut corners until infection is rampant and care is heinous. That is just the nature of people who are only concerned with making money, not caring for people.

Remember the Triangel Shirt Waist Factory Fires in 1911? That was before unions and regulations. Though it was not a hospital, it is a perfect example of what owners will do, and what measures will be cut without regulations...close to 200 women were burned to death because the owners were too cheap to put in sprinklers or fire-escapes.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Why are there two threads going on the same subject by the same OP?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in floor to ICU.
I would like to know if surveyors prey on weak looking nurses and cna's? i would like to know what I personally can do, to keep myself out of their firing line. It seems like the French Inquisition. Why can't they just look around, watch and take notes? I work nights, and last year they called me over the phone, during a horredous night, and I had a headache and my period, and began to fire weird questions at me during my 6am med pass. Not, that I want them in on my shift, but if your going to question me for an hour, at least have the decency to get out of your fluffy bed and do it.

I don't think they target the weak. The best thing you can do it accept that they come and be as prepared as possible. Usually the facility will give you a laundry list of what they will be looking for. Review it. Know where the fire extinguishers and gas shut-off valves are, know where the policy books are, etc... And remember, it is perfectly acceptable to say, "I do not know the answer to that, but if you give me a moment, I will find out."

Take a deep breath. I have been "targeted" a few times and it wasn't that bad. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

threads merged

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment