Survived Survey..

[blessedmomma247]

I started working at a small LTC about 6 mos ago after moving across country for my husband's job. I work night shifts, some 12 hr shifts but mostly 8 hrs. This facility is the smallest I have ever worked at before. With a full census we are at 55 beds, with 35 beds for long term care and 20 beds for the TCU. I am the only nurse during the night with two cna's. There is also the assisted living apartments in the back. During the night, I am considered to be on call for them and go there if there is an emergency. Which if I am needed, then I am sending some out to the ER. There is about 150 apartments with 220 residents. I have only had to go there 3 times. I do have an on call RN that is able to help if I need it. For the most part, my night shifts are okay...the occasional falls, residents on hospice ect. Mostly, I give a lot of PRN's for pain and do a lot of pain management with the TCU residents. I tend to do a lot of what the PM nurse couldn't finish. Making sure we have what we need from pharmacy. Last week we had state come in and they did not find anything...zip..zero..zilch. I barely knew they were here except the signs posted on the door and at the nurses' station. I happened to be working a 12hr shift the 2nd day they were here and I knew they were in the building but that was it.

Not quite sure how we got no tags or anything. There is no such thing as a perfect place. We have our share of problems!! But all in all, I am very happy here . The DON is amazing and she will be in here in a moment's notice if I call her. She is very hands on and I have seen her help with a resident. I have only had a problem with one of the unit managers who likes to do things her own way and not be questioned about it. So I have learned to just say ok and that is that.

I keep thinking things are too good to be true and I am waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Any one else have a perfect survey?

[mtjoanna]

Nope--not even close! The facility that I just left had a surprise visit from the State my second-to-last day there--we'd had someone call the state and complain about the constant short-staffing and a few other things. We got 2 tags that I know about. Before this last State visit, the typical, normally scheduled one had lots of tags with a promise to return to check up on things. Both visits were pretty bad.