Lvn

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, LTC.

Signed up for the website yesterday 6/15/07. I am an LVN with 36 yrs experience. Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, and now LTC. Have a question for you who are working LTC --- do you find the State Surveys intimidating?:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Welcome to Allnurses. I'm glad you signed up.

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Not anymore. The facility I'm in has a DON who insists that we do things properly all the time, and when the state comes she just says, "Do your job."

Nice.

:)

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Specializes in Administration.
Signed up for the website yesterday 6/15/07. I am an LVN with 36 yrs experience. Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, and now LTC. Have a question for you who are working LTC --- do you find the State Surveys intimidating?:uhoh3:

Oh yes. Many of the nurses are scared to death when the surveyors are around - especially if they are the unfortunate person who gets to have them watch their med pass! The secret is in making sure that you do your best work all the time, that way your habits won't get you in trouble. Just like if you make it your habit to drive the speed limit, you don't have to worry about whether there's a cop behind you!

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

I choose to no longer work LTC but when I did, it sure was intimidating---even though we did things by the book---because suddenly the facility was being staffed properly(in order to pass survey) but with agency personnel who weren't familiar with the facility or the patients. Once it was over, we went back to poor staffing. That was frustrating and so unfair to the patients.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

hi, valley1238!

do you want your cnas to be afraid of you? what would you tell them if you heard that they said they were intimidated by you? "i'm only doing my job," comes to my mind. part of delegating patient care to cnas is supervising how they are accomplishing that. state surveyors are doing the same sort of thing. they are doing their job--making sure that the ltc facilities are complying with the laws pertaining to ltc facilities. what would you if you discovered that a cna was breaking all kinds of rules and doing their own thing when it came to taking care of your patients?

a fact of working life is that we all have to answer to someone for our actions. this is not a valid reason to be afraid of them. be afraid if they are going to beat us to a pulp because that is unfair. our tax dollars pay and support these services which are done for the protection of all citizens so that a few unscrupulous owners of ltc facilities don't take advantage of this vulnerable population. since you, as i, are in california, you can read the pamphlet that the california department of health services has prepared for the general public to inform them of this process.

another state (pennsylvania) has a similar (and, i think, better) web page for their citizens:

i worked in ltc off and on for many, many years. i've seen some pretty rotten stuff, let me tell you. i made a promise to myself very early in my career that i was only going to follow good nursing protocols and procedures. that's where it all starts. unfortunately, not every nurse practices that same way. when i worked for a facility i did what i could to make sure we were following the right way of doing things, following the laws. the laws are not secret. today they can be clearly viewed by anyone on the internet. the surveyors will tell you what they are. they also have a teaching duty. when they come to your facility pay attention to the notice they post on the door of the facility. they hold meetings with the nursing staff to get input and answer your questions. please go to one of these meetings. get to know who these people are. ask them what their credentials are, what they did before they were surveyors. ask them how you can improve something about the way you practice. they will tell you. they honestly are not ogres. occasionally, there might be a grumpy one in the bunch, but they are people like everyone else. most are friendly and willing to share if they see you are interested in learning. they are in hundreds of facilities and see what works and what doesn't work. but if you are afraid of them and chose to treat them like they were the plague then you'll never get any benefit from their knowledge.

also check out this recent thread on this forum:

welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

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Signed up for the website yesterday 6/15/07. I am an LVN with 36 yrs experience. Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, and now LTC. Have a question for you who are working LTC --- do you find the State Surveys intimidating?:uhoh3:

:welcome: and no I do not. Sressfull yes, but if you know your job then it is ok.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, LTC.

I am not afraid of the State Surveyors ---- like I said I have been in LTC for 8 yrs ----I have been followed on my med pass 6 times so far---- I was just curious if anyone else feels intimidated by the Survey ---- I am one of the fortunate ones from what I am reading who happens to work in a really decent facility --my DON also says "just do your job"---- we have had good surveys ---I remember when working in the hospital and JACHO was coming the atmosphere was tense and we knew when they were coming --- I think what adds to surveyors coming to LTC is you don't know when they will walk through the door. Interesting that just because I asked the question it was assumed that I am afraid. Maybe I should have said "Do surveys add to your stress level?" By the way my CNA's are not afraid of me. And of course we are all accountable to someone in our job!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

valley1238. . .Yes, it is funny how people assume things, isn't it? We all have to understand the nature of this particular medium of communication. We can't hear the tone of anyone's voice, see the look on anyone's face or see their body language to help us interpret what the message is that is being conveyed. It makes responding to posts difficult at times. As a communication tool, this kind of medium does leaves a lot to be desired. Still, it can be very stimulating. What's interesting, I think, is the behavior that some people still exhibit, especially the ones who openly display emotions. That is one of the things about working with people that has always fascinated me for years and years and probably what kept me interested in nursing for so long.

I too, have been very fortunate to have worked in some really terrific LTC facilities. Some crappy ones too. I'm sorry if you felt I thought you were scared of DHS. Many other posts were about the fear of surveyors. When I post I'm also thinking about the other people who are reading who aren't identifying themselves (lurkers). I'm always looking to share my experiences or teach. My right, I feel, as a veteran of nursing.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Derm, Urology, LTC.

Thank you Daytonite---you have put my mind at ease! I too love to share my experiences and I love to teach. I am the so called "official orienter" at my job --- I can usually tell in about half a shift whether someone is going to make it or not in our facility ---my DON and Administrator have a high bar --- Thank you for what you said in your previous email --- helpful to see things in writing! Would love to network with you. And by the way I know a couple of the surveyors by name so when they come I say " Hi-----!" blah, blah, blah and then pray they are having a good week! :>)

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Two of the biggest lies you'll ever hear:

The check's in the mail and

DPH survey is a learning experience.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Two of the biggest lies you'll ever hear:

The check's in the mail and

DPH survey is a learning experience.

:lol2: :monkeydance: :lol2: :monkeydance:

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