CEO told me to stay home while state evaluators vist the place I work..:(

TinyNurse, RN · Mar 28, 2007

I honestly don't know why they told you this..........but thankfully you were at home when the state came. What type of facility do you work in?

Bala Shark · Mar 28, 2007

I work at a facility that deals with physical/occupational thearpy for the elderly..The residents dont stay there too long maybe 3 to 4 months at the most..There is approximatly about 30% that are long term care residents..The CEO hired me for the job..The bad thing about it is that they asked the nurses who been working there for a while to fill my place..I think this is just a bad sign..But the CEO told me that things are "ugly here" when states comes in to evaluate how things are run..

TazziRN, RN · Mar 28, 2007

Since you are new they may have not wanted to take a chance on the evaluators asking you a question you didn't know the answer to. It's not a lack of confidence, it's wanting to show its best side. If you had been there for several years and they did this, then you would have a reason to be insulted.

caliotter3 · Mar 28, 2007

Consider yourself having been given a reprieve by your employer. I have seen experienced nurses immediately terminated during the conduct of the state survey and sometimes the higher ups (Director of Nurses) will leave immediately afterwards. The survey is no picnic. If you are not physically there, then you can't get involved in anything. Say prayers of thanks. Somebody is looking out for you.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 28, 2007

Consider yourself having been given a reprieve by your employer. I have seen experienced nurses immediately terminated during the conduct of the state survey and sometimes the higher ups (Director of Nurses) will leave immediately afterwards. The survey is no picnic. If you are not physically there, then you can't get involved in anything. Say prayers of thanks. Somebody is looking out for you.

:yeahthat: ,absolutely, possitively, without a doubt, ye should be on bended knee....lololololol

Rizpah · Mar 28, 2007

Consider yourself having been given a reprieve by your employer. I have seen experienced nurses immediately terminated during the conduct of the state survey and sometimes the higher ups (Director of Nurses) will leave immediately afterwards. The survey is no picnic. If you are not physically there, then you can't get involved in anything. Say prayers of thanks. Somebody is looking out for you.

I absolutely, totally, wholeheartedly agree. I worked in LTC for 6 years, as CNA, then LPN - on the PM shift. During that time I always lucked out and happened to be off when survey came or they were out of the building by the time I came in for PM shift. When I went on and moved up to RN, I was awarded an RN supervisor role and was taught the MDS. I'd only been in the role for about 3-4 months when survey came. I almost quit my position. I felt SOOOO beat up, no good, don't know a thing, didn't learn anything in my 4 years of college, lower than dirt, etc....(we got a citation for not doing a change of condition on paper, though we were doing everything we needed to for the resident - just weren't taking credit for it)... But I stuck it out and used it as a learning experience. After all, they don't teach the MDS in nursing school. I've been in my position for 10 years now and am comfortable with what I do - I rarely think about leaving now and surveys aren't so scary.

So, until next year, learn all you can about your organization, know the policies and procedures, never use the phrase "I don't know" with a surveyor. Even if there is more attached to the phrase to make a complete sentence, all the surveyor will document is "staff member said, 'I don't know.' " Our DON taught us to respond with repeating the question back to them and saying, "let me think about this and I will get back to you." Gives you time to put together your answer without saying something you don't intend to that can be twisted around.

Take the opportunity to go shopping or some more reading on this site. This site is great!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2007

I agree with Tazzi,, they just dont want you to be put in a position of not being able to confidently perform in the presence or under questioning by a surveyor. It isnt a reflection on you at all. Even seasoned staff have problems when going under the interrogation heat lamp. Consider it a favor, and enjoy your days off.

Blackcat99 · Mar 28, 2007

How lucky can you get!!!!! :monkeydance: There's nothing worse then being at work when the state arrives. Be glad that you get to stay home. What a blessing you have received from the CEO!!!!!!!:balloons:

fultzymom · Mar 28, 2007

I do not know that it is a lack of confidence in you but maybe they just wanted experienced nurses in while state is in. Surveys are hard. Anything that happens wrong while they are there and the facility could get zinged. I would not take it as an insult. Just that you are new et they might have been worried state would ask you something that you did not know. I wish my facillity would have done that for me when I was first at the facility. I thought I would have a breakdown of some sorts.

rita359 · Mar 28, 2007

I work prn for my hospital. When joint commission announced beforehand when they were coming to the hospital and I learned of the time I would always mark that time on my calendar and you can bet that was time I would schedule OFF. No sense volunteering for trouble.

KellieNurse06 · Mar 28, 2007

I wouldn't be insulted at all! I think it is because you are fairly new that's all...... and they didn't want you to be put into a position that you didn't know the answer to.

I remember doing clinicals in school and we would never be at a place when the state came in for that very reason...we would end up having a clinical day at the college studying with our instructor for the 8 hours or practicing our skills......... and it's because the state can ask you anything regarding the patients care or the facility.......and if we don't know the answer because we were students...then how would that look???? same as someone new working there..... because you have to think of it like the nurse practice act.......new nurses are held in accountability to the exact standards as a nurse who has umpteen years of experience.

I would definetly not be insulted that I was told to stay home those days.....absolutely not!!!

Don't get offended at all!!!