JCAHO is coming and our floor is a mess!!!

[stella123 rn]

I just wish that I could take vacation when they are here. They are focusing so much on patient safety this year. We have a ton a new policys in place that we are supposed to follow. The problem is that so many people have quit in the last month that we are shortstaffed and taking unsafe patient loads. I am ready to quit myself. Maybe them coming will actually be good. Maybe administration will listen to us after we get tons of violations.

They say that the reps are actually going to follow nurses around. Has anyone else experienced this? I hate working when I feel like someone is always watching me. It makes me nervous.

[Katnip, RN]

We just had a "mock" visit. JCHAO sent us reps to prepare, since our hospital is one of the volunteers who will accept the unannounced visits next year.

They don't want much to do with unit managers. They talk with the charge nurses and staff nurses. They'll ask all kinds of questions, it seems mainly about patient safety, facility safety, and pain management.

We also heard they will look for standardization between different floors, such as how narcotics are stored and handled.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

So why are YOU worried. This is the hospitals problem more than yours. If they don't get aqccedited again what will happen to you? You will have a new job lined up quickly. THEY on the other hand will lose it all (funding wise, reputation wise). Tough luck on the hospital for waiting for the survey to come before being concerned. I love to have them follow me. I tell them that we are never staffed as well as when they are here (which they know). Don't sweat it, just do your best to "comply"

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

A surveyer once followed me around for over an hour with clip-board in hand. Asked me a ton of questions and watched me like a hawk during med pass and dressing changes.

I wanted to yell at her- "Can't you see how short-staffed we are? Why don't you put down that flippin' clipboard and lend a hand!"

[sjoe]

"Maybe them coming will actually be good. Maybe administration will listen to us after we get tons of violations."

That will happen the day AFTER pigs fly.