Survey is coming!!!!!!

[wooosp]

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:

[nightmare, RN]

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!

[Summer69]

Smile, be polite, and do not answer more than they ask for!!!!(kind of like being questioned in a trial). Do not try to avoid them(as in sneak around and do dressing changes that they have asked to see) then they think you are hiding something and they really start looking!

[BoopetteRN]

I have been through surveys when staff come out of the woodwork and that is so frustrating to staff who deal with issues all the time without the head there to work the floor. Currently our administration leaves the floor to the staff who do the same job they do every day. Our administrator states that a surveyor told her that at some facilities she feels that if she could be followed into the bathroom. We give the surveyors what they want and leave them to do their job, the DON and administrator stay in their office unless she is asked about something.

[shoreh2000]

relax.....don't be nervous!.....if you do get nervous....tell the surveyors you are and you need some time to think of the answer....then go to your superior and discuss the question with them!....you can't have all the answers!

take it from me....i was once a surveyor!!!!

[duling]

It's our survey this week and I'm a nurse, i'm a bit anxious, especially on being followed on med pass...some tips pls!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

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!!!

in my facility, the upper administration walks residents to and from the dining room every day. we pass trays every day. we answer lights every day. we help feed every day. if you don't do it every day, the surveyors know.

what i worry about is floor nurses who play dumb (or who are dumb) who try to 'get back' at management by saying or doing stupid things during survey.

[debRN0417]

I always appreciate it when staff are "themselves", pleasant, speak to you, and know their residents. It is so refreshing and sets such a great tone for the survey when I go on tour with a nurse who tells me about her residents, not just their diagnoses, but "who" the resident is, what they are like, how long they have been there, something personal about them. It is stressful I know, but it will be over soon and it's usually only once a year!

[rapkeygurl]

no kidding seems like they always over staff these days also lol, One big thing is if you have g-tube feedings make sure you do it by policy- take some time out to read your disaster policy, remember what to do in case of fire they might ask you, or bomb threat. How to use a fire extinguisher- they asked one of my students and yep he of course said duh I dont have a clue!! Make sure you are answering lights in a timely manner, releasing restraints if you have any, turning people, and by god stick to your story, they try to trip you up to change an answer sometimes , If you know you did a good assessment say hey that was my assessment . Assess residents for pain and go back and check that meds you give are effective. That is just a few things that come to mind. Remember it is a learning experience and dont over feed them information only what they ask less is more in this case.

[husker_rn, RN]

Also remember if you haven't been doing things " right " start now. Survey teams can tell when something is done normally or if you are deviating from the usual way of doing things. You want all your actions to be calm, smooth { for lack of a better word}, natural. Do not say " I don't Know " but rather " Let me find out for you ".

[kmarie724]

I just recently survived my first state survey as a nurse. There was lots of good advice given already so i don't have much to add. I just tried my best to relax and did things the way I was taught in school and the surveyor told the DON that I did a great job.

Good luck.