The Survey

The stress of the Health Department Survey is OVER. Today the survey team did their exit conference. Our nursing home did VERY well, we had only 5 minor deficiencies. All of which can be corrected. The survey was very stressful but it truly is a validation that Saint Paul's Church Home is a good place to work and to live. The staff all should be proud of themselves.

Another Day...

WHOA! Most people think of a nursing home as a quiet place filled with little old people. That is completely wrong. It is it's own world, filled with overworked staff, an interesting variety of residents, and once a year State of Minnesota Health department surveyers. They come into the home unnanounced and take a look at everything we are doing (did I forget that i work in a nursing home?). All of our documentation, how we care for our residents and in my department...how our Recreation Therapy programs run. I know that everyone says that if you are doing your job correctly all the time that having someone come and observe you should be no big deal. I will say that it is indeed, a stressful time for everyone at the home. The one bright spot in all of this is that if we are truly offering a good home for our residens (aka doing our job) the survey is a vaidation of our good works. I can say proudly that I turned over some of my records today with confidence that they were as good as they could be, and that they hopefully will find that I am doing a good job. This being my first survey process, I am approachin it with open eyes and a bit of anticipation. I am watching my co-workers and seeing how they are dealing with the extra stress of the survey....enough survey onto something else.

My husband and I are getting ready to have our wedding reception on the 12th. We did a "planned elope" wedding and want to celebrate with our family and friends who couldn't elope with us. We are having a wedding reception pig roast...BBQ, beer and people I love. Who could ask for more? Details to follow.