CMS Visit: "Your in my way - My patient is more important than this petty bull"

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

The state health department and CMS was on my unit for their dumb survey (Quality of Care, Regulations, Blah Blah Blah). This shift was total BEDLAM! My patients were in serious condition and my one guy was going downhill really fast.

The State/CMS didn't seem to get the hint. They were pestering me about regulatory information (was asked about infection control, hand washing, Life/Fire safety, etc) THREE different times.

I was so busy running between the different room that even Helen Keller would have known I was busy. That still didnt stop the State/CMS from another round of questioning. I cut them off - I took a stand!

"You need to move, you are in my way. I am extremely busy with 3 very complex intermediate patients all going to **** right now. You are wasting my time. My patients need me more than anyone else right now. This is LIFE and Death and you of all agencies should be aware of how CRITICAL a lack of a nurse is with patient outcomes. Again Please leave me alone and talk to an upper level non-bedside nurse if you want to hear what you want to hear."

That Felt Good.....

My manager was initially angry but she realized that asking a busy bedside RN the same regulatory/HIPAA/JCAHO crap will not make my patients get better......pull a nurse away from the bedside and see how long the patient lives.

CMS/State Health - BACK OFF THE BEDSIDE NURSES!!!!

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

Good for you!

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Another good for you!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

LOL excellent response!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Good for you.

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Yeah that! Hoot!

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Is there more to this story? I too applaud your moxy and dedication. Yet, this may not be over. I have trust issues with the powers that be. They can throw you under the bus in a heartbeat when you ruffle feathers. Standing up for what is right is rarely appreciated. They call it different things; lack of professional demeanor, "rudeness", and similiar things when the correct term is "assertiveness". Tip of the hat to you abbaking!

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While I applaud your taking care of your patients I am too askeered of TPTB to speak to them in that way. I certainly would have told them that it was a bad time and that I had patients going south.

:)

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Specializes in psych,maternity, ltc, clinic.

I wish they'd leave us all alone. :)

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I'd probably have said "Let's talk later. I'll buy you lunch." Either that or "Hey, could you give me a hand with this code brown?"

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Have to wonder if i wouldn't have handled it the same way. I have low tolerance for the accreditation people, which is a huge asset since I work night shift and don't normally see them. I honestly think it's a bunch of political BS but as no one is really interested in my opinion, and I like getting a paycheck, I just try to fly under the radar. I commend you for taking your stand.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

way to go!

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