Survey is coming!!!!!!

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?

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.....

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?

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.

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

What shift do you work?

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

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.

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

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!!!

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.

When the Care Comission do an announced visit to us they actually highlight the points in their code of practice which they will be looking at.That gives us a chance to have everything up to date on these subjects.Of course when they do an un announced visit they then see if these points have been kept up to date!