Nurse Surveyor

[Trccook]

Any nurses out there nurse surveyors for your state? After being a nurse leader/exec for years, I am looking into this possibility. The pay cut is horrible, but I feel good surveyors are so needed. Thoughts?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I was a surveyor for the state of Oregon several years ago. I ended up washing out of the training program due to some personal medical problems as well as needing to be with my husband, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer. But I will say that it's a worthwhile job; even though the pay stinks the benefits are great, and you get to see what really goes on in nursing homes and help to correct what's wrong. I remember when I went on my first survey and we had to issue an IJ against a facility that didn't provide call lights for the residents on one hall "because they never use them". This was said by the administrator with a straight face! But then there were really good facilities that did all the right things, and it was fun to watch the staff's faces when we announced that they were deficiency-free. That was rewarding. I wish I could have continued, but I'd recommend it for anyone who's interested in helping make things better for people in nursing facilities.