Oh, because state is coming

I totally agree. State came to my facility last week. Amazing how the number of CNAs on my unit DOUBLED. I really think it's sad that it takes a state survey team being present in order for staffing ratios to be SAFE and ensure that the residents are getting optimal care.

Not sure about your facility but when the State is visiting ours..its amazing who shows up to help pass breakfast/lunch/dinner trays and to (gasp!) FEED the residents!!

Same "extra" surpirse people who show up to pass trays and feed are the same people who mysterically disappear never to be seen passing trays or feeding residents again....well..until the next time the State visits.

Right, CT! The admin was even in the dining room at the feeder tables! I didn't even think he knew where it was. Fortunately I'm on nights and all I heard were tales but damn, who knew the admin crew even knew how to pass trays!

Yeah I love how they have to ask us who some of the people are. It's like wow that's not a dead giveaway that you never do this!

I also was discouraged to see the changes for the better that took place even while the survey was still in progress, only to disappear into the ozone layer within four weeks or less after the survey ended. Why positive changes couldn't be kept in place all year long always escaped me, even the stuff that we knew didn't cost extra money. Like nobody really cared about anything.

The change are all for show, I'm convinced of that.

They told us that state will be coming to our facility soon.

What happens when they come? Do you have someone looking over your shoulder the whole time or what? I heard they pay more attention to the nurses than the CNAs.

Yes in my experience they don't bother with the CNAs. They watch nurses pass meds to a few people and look at charts, and talk to random residents (many of whom are too demented to understand the questions).

There is a lot of pressure on CNAs to do everything by the book. You know, be on time with repositioning, follow everybody's aspiration care plans, don't drop linen on the floor, etc. But no one is going to follow you into a room and watch you do care. So if you don't remember those minute details from your skills test (ie for a bed bath wash the left upper arm, rinse, dry, cover, wash the left lower arm, rinse dry, cover, then do the right arm, or whatever the order is- see? I don't remember!) then it's okay.

They told us that state will be coming to our facility soon.

What happens when they come? Do you have someone looking over your shoulder the whole time or what? I heard they pay more attention to the nurses than the CNAs.

The are very few things I have ever seen a state surveyor ask a CNA to do. One is peri care. We always say "Yes, but let me get back with you in a few minutes." That gives us time to grab a partner. This helps to lessen the stress and allows the person doing the peri care to do the obligatory handwashing and glove changing before putting on the new brief, while the other person is keeping the resident on their side. The second thing they have wanted to watch is us thickening liquids at meals.

Yes in my experience they don't bother with the CNAs. They watch nurses pass meds to a few people and look at charts, and talk to random residents (many of whom are too demented to understand the questions).

There is a lot of pressure on CNAs to do everything by the book. You know, be on time with repositioning, follow everybody's aspiration care plans, don't drop linen on the floor, etc. But no one is going to follow you into a room and watch you do care. So if you don't remember those minute details from your skills test (ie for a bed bath wash the left upper arm, rinse, dry, cover, wash the left lower arm, rinse dry, cover, then do the right arm, or whatever the order is- see? I don't remember!) then it's okay.

This past summer, the state officials followed the CNAs around quite a bit on some days. Even to the shower rooms. Our facility got flagged for a lot of the mistakes the nurses made though. Didn't stop our administrator from blaming us though...