Help! New grad nervous about LTC state inspection!

[Elektra6]

New to nursing/LTC and nervous about the coming state inspection. We have a great facility, 95% rating in the past, but need some tips about what they are looking for. I'm not positive I can handle the med pass in the correct time frame, but what about wound care? What were your experiences with the state? Thanks in advance.:uhoh21:

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

No you won't get a fine and unless it's a pervasive problem in your facility, there will be no citation.

[debRN0417]

If the med cart was well within your view and you didn't leave any meds on top of the cart, then you should not have a problem.

[debRN0417]

In my experience, unless one actually sees a call light not being answered promptly it is not cited. I mean, what is promptly? There is no specific time frame that I know of. If residents complain of them not being answered, there have to be specifics and an outcome that can be proven because the lights were not answered....I have heard many complaints about lights not answered. "It takes them 45 minutes" "I waited an hour". When you are in need of something and are waiting, 5 minutes seems like a very long time. It could be a dignity issue though if a resident says they rang for help to the bathroom and had to wait so long they soiled themself- if they were continent and needed only assistance to toilet. Call lights are hard to cite unless they are blatently ignored...I think.

[littlewingrn]

I started in LTC as a new grad almost a year ago. Wouldn't you know, state was in approx 3 weeks after I started. The surveyor that spoke with me was very nice, I explained I was a new grad, etc. I am sure she could see the sweat beads on my brow and understood how nervous I was. She asked specifically about dialysis patients and what how we assessed and monitored them when they returned from dialysis. Know the facility's policies and like the others have advised, if you don't know for certain, tell them, but let them know you will get the correct answer for them. Do not guess. State is due in our facility any day as well. Everyday I walk up the sidewalk, I am on pins and needles......

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I am a surveyor. The advice that I can give you is be honest in your answers and if you don't know, it is OK to say so. My role is not to pick on the staff and when you are asked a question it is not because you did anything wrong. Data gathering in the form of resident/ family interviews, staff interviews and record review are all part of the process. In addition, each facility does things differently and documents their data in a different way. We have to learn how you do it at your facility. You will not know all the rules and regulations and you are not supposed to.

If you are observed on med pass, slow down and take your time. It is hard to do a med pass with someone watching you. Calm, composed. But know your medications so that you will know the correct way to deliver each medication.