Sfisher09

Getting ready for my first QIS survey. Any coordinators out there who have been through an annual QIS survey? How did it go? Any tips?

I am an RN who went from school directly to LTC in 2009. I was told to go to MedSurg because that is where I would get the most experience. I had quite a few friends who went to scute settings in the hospitals. I have been with my company for a couple of years now and I have found several advantages to LTC. 1. You get plenty of experience. You are the IV nurse, the phlebotomist, the respiratory nurse. You do it all. I have taken care of a wide variety of conditions and have never felt that I wasn't learning every day. 2. You get to know your patients. In a hospital setting, the patient may stay for a couple days or even a couple weeks, but in LTC you get to know their stories, their families, their routines. I know my residents. They are like family to me. I feel like this helps me provide excellent care. 3. The pay can be better. Many of my friends who went into the hospitals started off well below me on the payscale. This may vary from facility to facility and/or state to state, I don't know. 4. RN's have the ability to be promoted quickly. I started as a PRN floor nurse and eventually went part-time. Within a couple months, I was offered a supervisory position (most LTC facilities prefer 24hour RN coverage) and loved it. Learned so much in that role. About 6 months later, I was offered a job as an MDS coordinator, which I absolutely love. I have been fortunate to be able to see how the facility runs from a few different perspectives now. So, anyway, I just wanted to share a point of view from someone who has not had a negative experience in LTC. Best of luck!