New Grad - SNF State Audit

[Ringers]

The state came to visit my workplace. I am a new grad nurse and have never encountered them. They asked some questions to which I realize I could have given more in depth responses. They asked “what would you do” situations. I’m just overthinking my interaction with them. There was a particular moment where I know I messed up & I did acknowledge it when we were speaking. After our questions she was pleasant, so for a moment I felt relief and that she wasn’t going to ding me hard. I’m just scared. I knew I should have performed better/differently.

[JKL33]

1 hour ago, Ringers said:

After our questions she was pleasant, so for a moment I felt relief and that she wasn’t going to ding me hard.

They aren't there to ding you or not ding you personally or quiz you on your nursing knowledge and grade your competency. They are there to assess your workplace. You could have straight up answered every question with, "I'm pretty new, so I would generally [do xyz] and also consult my resources/more senior nurses/supervisor/charge nurse," etc., and that would've been a reasonable answer.

I have not worked in SNF but let me tell you the general way things are with regard to surveys and surveyors. It is the employer and the environment that is being evaluated. The surveyors didn't get all dressed up to come assess whether you should have been given a nursing license or not. ?

It is the employer who tries to make nurses feel that the whole survey depends upon whichever nurses the surveyor speaks to. And it is not true. Stupid amounts of energy and money are spent on employers/facilities/businesses trying to look good for a snapshot in time, rather than expending those resources to BE good. Making you feel that everything hinges upon your answers is part of their misguided effort to look good.

I am not minimizing your concern but rather hoping to share knowledge when I say: Everything is okay, this is not worth any additional worry on your part.