Jcaho

[windynights]

What has been the focus of JCAHO in your hospital this year? Just wondering if all the prep is worth the energy, especially when it takes away from patient care. Our nursing director keeps pouring out things we have to do, in order to be prepared for the upcoming JCAHO visit. I'm new enough to the experience, to question why we don't just do things as we normally do, and see what JCAHO thinks of us with our normal way of doing things. Comments?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

My hospital just went through JCAHO, and I must say, the nine months we spent preparing for the survey were intense, busy, and made me feel like a parrot (I'm probably still repeating the seven patient safety goals in my sleep). We knew all the right words to say........but wouldn't you know it, our department failed to check the crash cart 3 nights in a row?? In other words, we got all the complicated, highfalutin' stuff right, but forgot about the basics!! :imbar

I wouldn't get too stressed about it........that's management's job. I used to be a manager and am the veteran of a number of surveys, and it's just not worth it for the average floor nurse to get all wigged out. Just do your work as conscientiously as possible, be prepared to answer the surveyor's questions (or know where to find the answers if you don't know!), but don't sweat it......it's not THAT big a deal.

[windynights]

Thanks for your reply. I'm not worried. I am interested, and would like to see what others have to say about what JCAHO looked at, in their hospitals.

My hospital just went through JCAHO, and I must say, the nine months we spent preparing for the survey were intense, busy, and made me feel like a parrot (I'm probably still repeating the seven patient safety goals in my sleep). We knew all the right words to say........but wouldn't you know it, our department failed to check the crash cart 3 nights in a row?? In other words, we got all the complicated, highfalutin' stuff right, but forgot about the basics!! :imbar

I wouldn't get too stressed about it........that's management's job. I used to be a manager and am the veteran of a number of surveys, and it's just not worth it for the average floor nurse to get all wigged out. Just do your work as conscientiously as possible, be prepared to answer the surveyor's questions (or know where to find the answers if you don't know!), but don't sweat it......it's not THAT big a deal.