DON-bonus after survey??

NurseFeelGood · Sep 23, 2004

Yes, I know that it does happen in LTC. I have a friend who was DON at one such LTC facility and she got a bonus after survey. Many facilities will offer incentives such as a small bonus for the nurses if survey is good. It has never been hidden at any of the 5 LTC facilities I have worked.

donmomofnine · Sep 23, 2004

You probably don't care what I have to say, as I apparently have not "wised up" yet.....

southern_rn_brat · Sep 23, 2004

You probably don't care what I have to say, as I apparently have not "wised up" yet.....

lol I hope you don't "wisen up" too soon, Don!! We needed DONs like you.

I have never heard of a bonus being hidden but I would think that it should be noone's business but the DON and HR. My salary and bonuses are private, as they should be, and I don't think it my business what my DON makes.

If they give her a bonus for a good survey, then kudos to them!

mscsrjhm · Sep 23, 2004

You probably don't care what I have to say, as I apparently have not "wised up" yet.....

I offended somone without meaning to.

I am very sorry.

There are many good LTC facilities out there.

Some corporate LTCs, like you know, are run poorly, dirt cheap, a thorn in the side of LTC business.

This friend/DON worked in the late 80's early 90's at a couple of these huge corporate debacles. (I hesitate to name them- this is why I referred to it as a "racket")

(Remember the days when certain corporations bought and sold facilities and companies every 3 months or so? All within their own family: mothers, kids, grandmothers, etc. With a profit every time. Eventually, this was outlawed.)

She, unfortunately, didn't work for GOOD facilities or corperations.

Again, there are many good LTC facilities, with very good DONs and staff. Sorry.

MsSandi · Sep 23, 2004

:chuckle

Does anyone have information regarding DONs at LTC facilities receiving bonus' after survey???
Years ago..a friend/LTC DON told me about getting a bonus after a good survey. Gosh, this was 1991?? She said it was common practice, but kept "under wraps". (She should know... she worked in the LTC racket for years before wising up.)
I have since heard this from others.
Just wondering if this practice continues?? Anyone know??

Wow

Wise up is a tough word. I have worked in LTC since 1978 and recently relocated to TX and had to go to acute care instead of LTC talk about job shock. Yes many facilities give the DON a bonus for good surveys. It should be a private thing...any bonus not given to all staff should be private. However I really think that most facilities have some sort of celebration for the entire staff after survey be it pizza party or something else.

mscsrjhm · Sep 23, 2004

Having worked many years through agency at different LTC facilities, I haven't seen too much celebration after survey.

Working agency at LTC usually means:

1. most of their employees have left due to poor working conditions (creating a lack of continuity of care, and lack of nursing knowledge of resident's needs)

2. before leaving, old employees complained to residents and their families, giving them an insight into specific areas of concern, poor care, and even poorer management skills.

3. families will call state due to increase of agency workers, lack of continuity of care, and eventual decline in overall care.

4. administration stays in a state of crisis due to all of the above.

a viscious, "if it weren't so tragic it would be funny" cycle.

5. agency nurses eventually know the state surveyors on a first name basis. (honest- no joking.)

Yes, maybe those of you who work LTC at good, decent facilities would consider the term "wisen up" as a slam. I don't mean to slam you. I congratulate and support you.

Well-run facilities do not have much of a need for agency.

There are terrible places out there, and, unfortunately, when you work agency, these are the places you see.

My agency has a large list of do-not-ever-send-me-there facilities.

I have been pulled aside many times by surveyors, and asked, "what are the problems here", due to seeing them so very often. Don't mind telling you that I don't hesitate to let them know problems regarding patient care.

As far as administration.... I'm agency, I don't want to know anything about the politics.

I was once working at a LTC who was going through survey. The corporate people FLEW IN from different areas of the country. They (at least 6 of them) followed staff INTO ROOMS telling them what to do---during the care, and DURING THE SURVEY.

"don't forget to wash your hands, don't forget to put the call light by the patient, give the patient a drink of water, knock on the door, turn out the light, pull the curtains"

I have never seen anything like it, neither had the surveyor. Poor CNAs were being followed by two people... corporate and a surveyor!!!

The surveyor was attempting to contact her office to see if this was legal... she said it was.!!!!!

This is what we agency see.

debRN0417 · Sep 23, 2004

There are many facilities/corporations that reward their administrative staff with bonuses after good surveys. There are also rewards for other things like staff retention, staying within your allocated budget, and census of the facility. I am a DON and am not ashamed of the fact that I have recieved such bonuses, I work very hard. My staff works hard too, and they are rewarded with attendance bonuses (that I do not get) incentive bonuses (that I do not get) employee appreciation (that I do not get) After good state or corporate surveys they recieve a party or gift certificate as well as something at thanksgiving and Christmas...I am not complaining that I do not get these things, and I am indeed aware that you may say "well as a DON, she makes more money"...this is also true, but I EARN every dime I am paid. I am on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I must carry my phone at all times, I must be available at all times, I must deal with families, residents, state, visitors and whatever. If I were paid for the time I am at work, plus the time I am on call I probably only make 2- 3.00 per hour. My staff work their 8 or 12 hours and go home. They are off on their days off and their weekends off...I may not be physically in the building, but I am not off. If they are called to work, they can say NO...I cannot. I take my job seriously. I am not complaining, I choose this position. I love my job, my staff and my residents. And, by happy, if I get a bonus from corporate, I feel I deserve it! Thank you for hearing my side. Oh...by the way, other department heads also receive such bonuses (Dietary, Administrator, Social Services, Housekeeping, Therapy, and admissions....to name a few)

mscsrjhm · Sep 24, 2004

Wow, this is obviously a very sensitive issue, didn't mean to step on any toes. The LPNs and CNAs that I have heard discuss DON's bonus money were not very happy about it. They did not receive any bonus $$, incentives, etc.

It was also a very hush, hush thing.

Again, as agency, not my business, just curious.

And, again, agency means I was not working at the best homes.

debRN0417 · Sep 24, 2004

Wow, this is obviously a very sensitive issue, didn't mean to step on any toes. The LPNs and CNAs that I have heard discuss DON's bonus money were not very happy about it. They did not receive any bonus $$, incentives, etc.
It was also a very hush, hush thing.
Again, as agency, not my business, just curious.
And, again, agency means I was not working at the best homes.

Please accept my apology if I sounded harsh...I didn't mean it that way. I would never intentionally offend a "sister or brother" nurse.

donmomofnine · Sep 24, 2004

I offended somone without meaning to.
I am very sorry.
There are many good LTC facilities out there.
Some corporate LTCs, like you know, are run poorly, dirt cheap, a thorn in the side of LTC business.
This friend/DON worked in the late 80's early 90's at a couple of these huge corporate debacles. (I hesitate to name them- this is why I referred to it as a "racket")
(Remember the days when certain corporations bought and sold facilities and companies every 3 months or so? All within their own family: mothers, kids, grandmothers, etc. With a profit every time. Eventually, this was outlawed.)
She, unfortunately, didn't work for GOOD facilities or corperations.
Again, there are many good LTC facilities, with very good DONs and staff. Sorry.

Thanks! I didn't think that was what you meant and I am glad that you clarified your thoughts! I never received a bonus, but I have only been through one survey and it went well. There was much satisfaction in that for me. We do celebrate with all the staff ~ sundae and pizza party. They are all the people who make it happen and deserve the credit too!:balloons:

debRN0417 · Sep 24, 2004

donmomofnine...

Do you mind telling me what company owns your facility? I'm just curious if the facilities "farther north" are owned by larger corporations/chains like ours?