Discussion

What will Jacho do?

Jan 23, 200719 yr

Sorry if I spelled JACHO wrong.

So, they are coming. Anytime and with only an hour warning.

I am new and I don't know what to expect but I am ~really~ scared. We have a handout to memorize. We need to know all the patient safety goals. We were randomdly quizzed the other day (we all had to name off one). We are told that they will come in, pick a chart, and the corresponding nurse!, and sit her down and go thru the chart, have her show them different parts of the chart at their request and have her name all the safety goals, where the fire exits and extinguishers are, and stuff like that. We need to know where we stand on the latest Press Gainey score, what types of innovations taken as a unit to improve patient safety, and all sorts of stuff like who shuts off the oxygen, what to do in an infant abduction (about the only one I am comfortable with!) where is the eyewash station, MDSA forms, oh it just goes on and on.

NM asked us if we were scared, and said that we should be scared. She said "How would you like to be the one responsible for the hospital not meeting standards?"

Ummm....HELLO! Is it really like that??? I am kind of shaking in my Nursemates right now because I FREEZE when directly questioned like that. And can one nurse not remembering all of the patient safety goals REALLY get the whole hospital in trouble?

I have been a nurse only since this summer and I am really scared. Is it realy as bad as it sounds??

Jan 23, 200719 yr

Good Grief.

JCHAO doesn't withhold accredidation based on one nurse's answers. Your NM is over reacting.

They do look at charts and ask the nurse about the care and safety of that patient. They might ask you what RACE means. I personally haven't heard them ask a nurse about Press Gainey.

They aren't going to grill each and every nurse in each and every unit, either.

Know your patients and what's needed for their care. Know your unit and where safety equipment is. You do need how to access things like MDS and what different codes mean, but more than one nurse has pulled out their card provided by the hospital about the codes.

Jan 23, 200719 yr

If you are asked a question you don't know the answer to, say "I don't know the answer to that but I'll find out and let you know." Then do it.

I'm sure they are accustomed to talking with folks who get brain freeze on being questioned.

Jan 23, 200719 yr

Author

Thanks so much for your help!!

I just called work on an unrelated issue and they are there today and tomorrow. Glad I have today off at least lol.

I feel better knowing that it won't be all my fault if they get me and I don't know something,and that I can just look it up.

We were told never say "I don't know"...I guess "I don't have access to that information but let me look it up" is better? *sigh* It will be over soon.

Jan 23, 200719 yr

what are they looking for this year? here are some clues, directly from their website. (please don't even read the article about the nurse staffing crisis, unless you want to make yourself sick enough to call off tomorrow. )