press-ganey when you are the patient

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Have you ever had a chance to fill out a press-ganey survey when you were the patient? My first impulse was to file it in the waste paper basket. My next thought was to write a bunch of funny/sarcastic remarks on it. Finally I was a good girl and filled it out as honestly as I possibly could. I thought of pumping up the nursing score but the place was obviously understaffed and giving higher than warrented ratings might just perpetuate the understaffing. On the other hand, I worried that giving average ratings would result in some poor nurses being hauled into a conference room to be lectured about getting the ratings higher. Believe me I have been through that and taking nurses out of circulation to yell at them about unanswered lights has a special irony to it.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

A family member underwent some fairly complicated radiologic diagnostics several months ago. 36 hrs. later we received the customer experience survey - 4 pages long. Several things went through my mind.

1. How many patients/families in our shoes, facing the possibility of several worrisome dx, are going to fill this out when they don't even know the outcome yet?

2. Even for those inclined to play along ... 4 pages is unbelievably tedious.

3. Reading the survey questions in order, it was the bottom of page 2 before anything was asked that even remotely addressed clinical competence.

4. I honestly believe that even if I were a lay person, I would not be so hyperfocused on very minor details of people, personalities, and aesthetics as the survey question writers seem to be.

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A family member underwent some fairly complicated radiologic diagnostics several months ago. 36 hrs. later we received the customer experience survey - 4 pages long. Several things went through my mind.

1. How many patients/families in our shoes, facing the possibility of several worrisome dx, are going to fill this out when they don't even know the outcome yet?

2. Even for those inclined to play along ... 4 pages is unbelievably tedious.

3. Reading the survey questions in order, it was the bottom of page 2 before anything was asked that even remotely addressed clinical competence.

4. I honestly believe that even if I were a lay person, I would not be so hyperfocused on very minor details of people, personalities, and aesthetics as the survey question writers seem to be.

You are right, many surveys are way to long, not just healthcare related surveys either.
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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We have filled out quite a few with our grandson who is now 5 months old as he has been admitted via the ER several times. I worked in this particular ER for 10 years and know what needs to be said. I helped my son and DIL fill them out, named names, etc., and they have always had a very positive experience. However, I agree with everyone else - they said they wouldn't have filled it out if left on their own because it was too .long and tedious and they already were worried about their child/

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I have practically no experience as the patient or the family member, but I often wonder how patients and their family members perceive me as their nurse. I would like to think they see a capable, compassionate professional. I'd like to see honest feedback on my performance, from the patient's point of view.

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I have filled them out and I have been honest. That's what is needed. Usually, good though.

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Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

Went to Er when knee buckled. Got a call several days later to evaluate the experience. Seemed to go on forever. I realize they want to know how things went but seems like fewer questions would have provided the same info. And like Oramar I worry that instead of improving staffing, etc. it will just get some overworked staffer a tush chewing.

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