Remember the days when you could practically predict the week your survey would land? I sure do. Back when I was a nurse in a Medicare unit, we’d call the neighboring center to see if the surveyors had arrived. One friend of mine even had the local hotel desk clerk on standby to tip her off when the inspectors checked in. Unannounced regulatory surveys? Not so much back then, there was a rhythm to it all.

But today, that rhythm is gone. Surveys can now happen without a whisper of warning, even at 5:00 p.m. on a Sunday, right in the middle of the Detroit Lions playing the Packers. As jarring as that sounds, the intent is clear: keep communities on their toes and residents consistently cared for. In fact, a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research highlighted that more sporadic, less predictable inspections were nearly as effective in protecting resident outcomes as conducting more surveys overall. During long stretches between inspections, when oversight tends to feel distant, the study found a higher likelihood of resident harm and even death. Those are sobering insights.

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News echoed this shift, underscoring how regulatory bodies are leaning into randomness to ensure ongoing quality care, not just performance for show during survey season. And while that might feel like added pressure, it is also a reminder that good care is not a timed event, it is a daily commitment.

Sure, it is easy to get swept up in worry when the clipboard brigade walks through the door unexpectedly. But here’s the truth: what we do every day isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it. Providing attentive, respectful care to residents is a calling. Yes, there’s always room to improve, there always will be. But staying grounded in why we do what we do is what helps us rise above the noise.

When the next unannounced regulatory survey rolls through your doors, let them. You’ve shown up for your residents every day already. That’s what matters most.

Stay well and stay informed!