Do the state inspectors ever show up on noc shift?

Blackcat99 · Jun 17, 2004

:rotfl: :) :chuckle Not before like 5:00 am. These are government employees who are not about to go out of their way unless they absolutly have to. They know that noc hours are 11pm until 7:30 am so if they show up at 5 am or 6 am they meet the requirement for checking out the noc shift. They are no more willing to roll up there sleeves and to knock them selves out for the elderly then the owners of the facilities are. Once in a while an administrator or DON will just to catch the staff in the act. Most buildings are locked up at night and the inspectors have to go beating the door down to get in which puts the staff on alert (wakes them up for sure).

:chuckle I agree with you 100% :rotfl:

bucksandra · Jun 25, 2004

Yes, we do come in on off hours. We are mandated to do so.

CHATSDALE · Jun 25, 2004

I Had State Inspector Come In At 11 Pm But I Was Clocking Out At The Time...i Have Heard Of Other Facilities Inwhich They Walked In At 12mn W/one Nurse In Building..other Nurse And A Cia Had Gone For Fast Food B/4 Everything Closed Down...and They Frequently Come In In Middle Of Night...always Assume They Are Right Around The Corner Thinking The Worse Things They Can Think...really Though If You Are Doing Your Work All Will Go Well...they Are Not The Enemy Everybody Wants Best Thing For Resident

RNBSN1 · Jun 25, 2004

I once had the pleasure of their company for an entire night shift.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jun 25, 2004

I've been working in LTC for more years than I'd care to say and not once has the survey team come in to start the survey on anything else but the day shift. I've heard of them walking into one facility at 6am on Thanksgiving morning, but it's never happened at any place I've worked in.

Blackcat99 · Jun 26, 2004

I once had the pleasure of their company for an entire night shift.

Thanks all for your messages. Good grief RNBSN1 ! You got stuck with them for an entire night shift! How awful! What did they want? What kind of questions did they ask? Did they follow you around when you did meds? :uhoh21:

RNBSN1 · Jun 26, 2004

The facility was due for the routine, scheduled yearly survey at that time. I was off for a two week vacation prior to the inspection, and returned to that on my first night back. It was denied by administration that they were also following up on a complaint during the survey (Mmmm....). The survey actually began on the day shift, and I was told that our new trio of surveyors arrived about a half hour before my shift began at 11 p.m.. Yes, they did follow us on routine and PRN medication pass, followed the aides when they answered lights, and asked routine questions about patient abuse, water turn off location, etc. I've been a nurse for over twenty years, and this has only happened to me once. In my experience, they usually arrive at 5 a.m. at the earliest, and leave late into the PM shift.

nrsstephanie · Jun 26, 2004

Are you a state surveyor?

LTC_LPN · Jun 27, 2004

Two years ago, state entered our building at 3:30 on a Monday morning and made themselves at home. They can begin their inspections at any time. The best thing is to always be ready for them - no matter what shift. What gets me is how everything runs so wonderfully when state is around: department heads are here early, everything is done as it should be, extra cna's on the halls, etc. But it's amazing how everything falls back into the old routine as soon as they exit the building. Really ticks me off. If they would just do things RIGHT all year long, then perhaps everyone wouldn't go insane while state is visiting. Funny how they all run around like chickens with their heads chopped off. And the bad part is, they realize this, too!:angryfire

FrazzledRN · Jun 27, 2004

EXACTLY!!!!! Do it right everyday and there shouldn't be a mad scramble to "make things right".!! :angryfire You said it!! :)

Blackcat99 · Jun 27, 2004

Thanks all for your great posts

Yes it would be nice if we had well staffed units all the time. Now let's say you are giving meds and a patient falls or there is some sort of emergency that you have to deal with right then. Ok you finish taking care of the emergency and you go back to passing your meds. You are running late with your meds and the state walks in. What does the state do to this nurse for giving out the meds late?

Mister Chris, MSN, NP · Jun 27, 2004

We had the inspectors turn up as per their usual (booked) visiting program at one establishment where I work casual. No big deal but the management did lay on extra staff for the time that the inspectors were there. The extra nurse on one area was asked is there always this number of staff on, and her reply was no! Only when the inspectors are coming! I understand that their comment went down on the report. (That nurse is still working there!)

At another place I happened to run into an inspector. After introducing myself I asked them where had they done their nursing, to which it was replied - we are not nurses, and never have done any nursing! We are management inspectors - blah blah blah! That inspector was very (very, very,) upset to think that I thought (and had the cheek to think,) that all inspectors/accreditation people who came round to check aged care homes, were at one time nurses!

I also agree that they should see these places as they6 really are - problems and incidents included. Staff shortages as well! Also be there when you are trying to phone for more staff first thing inthe morning with all the usual noise and commotion going on!