Survey is coming!!!!!!

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg.

My facility is preparing for its survey anytime now. This is my first job as an LVN, and I've never been through a survey.

I'm nervous and scared to death. I have no idea what it's gonna be like.

I REALLY could use any advice, tips, do and dont's?

THANKS in advace!!! :thankya:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My facility is preparing for its survey anytime now. This is my first job as an LVN, and I've never been through a survey.

I'm nervous and scared to death. I have no idea what it's gonna be like.

I REALLY could use any advice, tips, do and dont's?

THANKS in advace!!! :thankya:

What shift do you work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im a new CNA at a nursing home and our survey is coming in August. I really don't have any idea what to expect either. I would like some advice also.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC / SNF / Geriatrics.

Know your residents, what's in their plan of care and that the plan of care is being followed, do things according to policy and the way you were taught. Time for the short cuts to go out the window. Nurse - make sure you hold the inner canthus of the eye for 1 min. after application of glaucoma drops (we got nailed on this a couple of years ago). Wash your hands or do proper hand hygiene frequently, be on time with your meds. Don't give insulin injections while in the dining area. Answer call lights promptly. ALWAYS knock on the doors before entering a room. Make sure all the call lights are within reach. Make sure there are oxygen signs on the doors of the rooms where O2 is in use. Make sure foley catheter bags are off the floor and in dignity bags if possible. Provide privacy. Proper glove use. Know the steps in range of motion. What does RACE stand for? Where can an MSDS book be found? Make sure you are doing peri-care properly - front to back. Know the definition of abuse, what to report, to whom to report, when to report it.

This is just off the top of my head - we're expecting state anyday too. My first year with state as an RN in a supervisory position I felt like crud, like I didn't know anything! Just stay calm. Take a deep breath and remember that they are just people too. If I remember more tips, I'll come back and post more! Sorry you asked? :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC / SNF / Geriatrics.

Oh yeah, and never answer "I don't know, ya-dah, yah-dah". The only thing the surveyor will write down is "staff member stated, 'I don't know'." Never mind what ever else you were saying. Best bet if you don't know an answer to something is to repeat the question back to them - "I just want to make sure I'm understanding what you are asking. You want to know where to find......... I will need a few minutes to get back to you on this." Then run like heck to find someone who DOES know, get the answer and go back to the surveyor with the info they were requesting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Dignity - no using "honey", "dear", etc. Call them by the name they choose to use ie: Mrs. Smith or Mary, whatever they are comfortable with.

Be on time with meal service. Everyone sits down to feed, no standing over a resident looking down at them during meal time.

Call lights in reach, "stuff" (ie dressings, IV bags, oxygen equipment, bags of tube feeding) dated and initialed. Oxygen cannulas not left draped across a bed or on the floor.

Linen totes in hallways not overflowing with dirty laundry

Someone help - drawing a blank. I just go into automatic pilot at work, harder to think at home at this time of night

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.
What shift do you work?

I work 7-3pm.....Where all the action happens!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics, medsurg, group homes.

I have had the surveyer's go with me on a med pass. Just make sure you identify your resident. Make sure you got the medications you need. I was working 3-11 on a med cart that wasn't usually my hall and right off the bat, I needed a 4 pm med that hadn't come in yet. You talk about wanting to crawl in a hole. I had to come in the next morning on the 7-3 shift and wouldn't you know here they come to make sure that I had the medication in. The thing was they orignially wanted to see me do a dressing change on a decub. Since I didn't have one due on afternoon's they went with me on my med pass. Just relax and do what is right.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

CHILL. Seriously, they smell fear. Do what you were trained to do, and don't freak out. It'll be over in a week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

this will be a time when you see things you have never seen before like upper admin out on the floor answering lights and helping feed!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
this will be a time when you see things you have never seen before like upper admin out on the floor answering lights and helping feed!!!

the ltc i work at had a survey, and it seemed like the staff was crawling out of the woodwork doing resident care. about a month before that, the don was helping pass lunch trays, and we weren't that busy. (ya think someone from the state was around maybe?;) )

by the way, i love your avatar.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

ha! ha! ha! they never tell you about this kind of stuff in nursing school. you are going to see some interesting reactions by your co-workers, let me tell you. as for yourself, just make sure you follow good nursing practice. it's always a good idea to review the nursing policies and procedures of your facility and make sure you (1) know them because the surveyors like to occasionally question nurses about them, and (2) follow them. your managers are most likely going to be pointing these things out to everyone anyway. they're going to be reminding everyone to clear outdated medications out of the med carts and refrigerators, to clean up cupboards, refrigerators and med carts, make sure the charts are in order and up to date, etc. do act like you did when a nursing instructor was looking over your shoulder. don't try to hide anything because if you get caught doing that it really makes you and the facility look much worse than the actual deficiency. deception is a hard character flaw for the surveyors to ignore and they'll start looking for other deceptions. in the old days facilities used to literally rent a truck and load up everything they wanted to hide from surveyors and park it in someone's driveway until the surveyors left. if this is ever done, or worse--discovered, there are big consequences. some of the policies the surveyors have been notorious for asking the staff about are what to do if there is a fire, what to do if there is a code blue, the proper policy to follow when giving a medication. i got into a discussion with a surveyor on the continuity of care when transferring a patient to the hospital. it was one of their target projects that year. sometimes you can go to their website and find out what their target subjects are for the year. if you know what they are ahead of time if would be a good idea to review any facility policies you have on those specific subjects because somebody is going to get asked about it, maybe you. ha! ha! if you don't know the answer to one of their questions, don't give them a snow job, just politely say you honestly don't know. if you think the answer might be in the policy manual say you think it might be there and you'd have to check there. they might ask you where you would look to find the answer. they may want you to show them where the policy manual is and watch you while you find the answer for them. if you can't find an answer in a policy and procedure (p & p) manual then you would ask your immediate supervisor. burn that response in your memory.

here is some information on the medicare site about the survey process:

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/nhrights/howstatehealthworkersprotectyou.pdf - this pamphlet on our california state website was developed to inform patients and residents what a state survey is all about.

http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=188&q=200728 - this is consumer information for the public by the pennsylvania department of health about the survey process. good information for all nurses to read also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion