My first survey as ADON during noro outbreak!!

amoLucia · Jan 16, 2014

Sending you a really big hug!

sue a · Jan 20, 2014

What state do you live in? Our window is from now until April. I so feel your pain!!!

Milehighnurse · Jan 20, 2014

Colorado

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jan 21, 2014

That was us last year. 2nd day of survey....GI bug outbreak. The lead surveyor told us we didn't act in a timely manner to co tain the outbreak......puhleeeze. Germs are germs. I wash my hands at least 40 times a day and I still got the darn thing after they left.

We are still waiting for this year...they are very late in Massachusetts...coming in the last week of the 15 months.

Milehighnurse · Jan 21, 2014

We got the word on Friday, 13 tags, all low level- thank you Jesus! And thank you to all that tolerated my long post. Been through many surveys, but first time in this capacity. Was indeed educational. Went around and high 5'd floor staff for bustin their backsides during survey, let them know about final results, told them how proud I was of them. Also stated that we're going to take a little bit of time to let the dust settle from survey, do the poc, then start prepping for next survey. Have never understood why facilities seem to get lazy about these things until window opens and then that's all one hears.

One thing that I'm still puzzled about is something the Federal surveyor brought up. Made a point about our narcotic e-kit that we keep in one of the med carts. It's always under double lock, etc, but she told me that it wasn't permanently affixed to the cart, therefore someone could walk away with it. Ok, point noted, makes sense, no way to permanently affix it as the whole kit is exchanged when a new one is brought in from pharmacy. Federal surveyor told the D.O.N that it was because the cart could be removed from the bldg. Ok, so what about the carts that each have patient specific narcs in the narc bucket? She never said a thing about that. Still under double lock, etc. I don't get it. Admin had maintenance guy go out and get a large, heavy utility cabinet for med room for the narc e-kit, so now under 4 locks, but not permanently affixed to cabinet. Med carts are still on floor with double locks. More concerned about location of narc e- kit now as it can be still be removed. If a nurse was wanting to take entire kit, they could go out of med room, around the corner and out the back door. I seriously doubt a nurse would put her license on the line for that, but these days you never know. Any thoughts on this?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jan 21, 2014

I've had surveys with the feds before. We had the same thing as you (as does every building I've ever worked in). Narcotic ekit in a locked drawer in a locked cart. It has never been mentioned as a problem and I don't remember hearing about any new regulations. That's like saying someone could walk out with the refrigerator to steal the liquid countables inside the locked box behind a locked door!

Congratulations getting through your first survey as ADON.

Milehighnurse · Jan 23, 2014

It was news to me as we'll, but look up F431, think its open to interpretation from whomever didn't have their Snickers bar that day. Have less narcs in the e-kit combined than I do in each cart. Another thing for bldgs using flow sheets with b/p and fsbs. Make sure that your nurses back up any entries where they marked " MD" notified, with documentation. They weren't to happy with some the documentation, will spare you my rant on that ( slowly beating head, repeatedly).

Sam J. · Jan 31, 2014

It was news to me as we'll, but look up F431, think its open to interpretation from whomever didn't have their Snickers bar that day. Have less narcs in the e-kit combined than I do in each cart. They weren't to happy with some of my retards documentation, will spare you my rant on that ( slowly beating head, repeatedly).

One place, 2 med carts were wheeled out and found down the street with the lock boxes torn out. Another place a med cart was wheeled out the patio door to the med room and never found. I've seen several e-boxes disappear. I've seen couriers claim they were 'robbed' of their pharmacy boxes. I've seen patients (and visitors) hang out near med carts on the chance a nurse leaves a lock box hanging open when she goes into a room. Too many people have access to med rooms. Carts have way too many drugs in them- no reason to have a more than a week supply, much less a MONTH, worth of narcotics for every patient- not to forget about the other meds that are packed into those carts like a pinata, many left to expire only so they can then be reordered. Half the time narcotics and other meds are wasted (death, discharge, order changes). Countless hours of nursing time are spent counting, counting, counting. And then even so, there's always ONE patient that has run out of their meds. Ludicrous. Countless DON time is spent wasting, and recording narcotics- not to mention million$$ of wasted taxpayer money. If you do the math it's a simple fix- more frequent med deliveries, even on the weekends. As far as the med room and e-box, a few cameras fixed on the door, the drug cabinet, and the e-box sign out sheets will deter a lot of people.

And despite OP not naming the name of her SNF, I suspect the comment about the retards will soon be found plastered all over that place. I think they'll be able to figure out its author. Strange way to categorize staff she was just so recently so 'proud of'.