Staffing Matrix

[LisalaRN99, BSN, RN]

I work on the behavioral health unit of a medical center. We have a 31 bed adult unit. For a census less than 17 patients, we have 2 nurses; 17-24 we get 3 nurses; and for 25-31, we get 4 nurses. Our hospital mandates primary care nursing for all the nursing units, including our psych unit. This is the only psych unit I have worked where there is no medication nurse. All the nurses do their own meds. How do things work where you work?

[imapsychrn]

We have a 30 bed unit, basically full at all times. We have 2 RNs and 2 LPNs.

[pinkiepieRN]

When I worked adult psych, we had 26 beds. Staffing for a full unit was 4 nurses, 2-3 patient care techs, and 2 counselors to run groups. We did primary nursing as well - everyone gave out their own meds and did their own treatments.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Days & PM, 22-30 patients- 3 RN. One charge, two med nurses. All do admissions and discharges.

Days 28-30, 4 MHW Other wise 3. Pm has 3 MHW down to 16 or so.

1 AT, 3 social workers, secretary on days & pm

Nights is 2 RN, 2 MHW

And I will staff up for acuity if needed.

[LisalaRN99, BSN, RN]

Thank you for the insights. We also staff 2-3 Mental Health Techs per shift depending on census. However, we never seem to have enough staff due to 1 to 1's.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Right now we are running at 25- max census is 28. So we have 3 nurses and 4 pca/ MT positions.

we have 1 nurse until 13 patients, 2 nurses until 25. Normally its is 2 nurses and 2 aux staff scheduled so we sometimes get a nurse when the matrix doesnt call for it because it was what we could get.

[NCindasun21]

Thirty bed unit - 6 pts to 1 STAFF member with preference going to MHWs. On any given day the RN is the only nurse and that includes giving meds and attending rounds. The burn out rate is very high.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Thirty bed unit - 6 pts to 1 STAFF member with preference going to MHWs. On any given day the RN is the only nurse and that includes giving meds and attending rounds. The burn out rate is very high.

Ours is 4 to 1 with the preference to the MHW, but we do get a send nurse at 13

[Kay28]

30 bed adult acute psychiatric unit. 3-11 shift is 5 RNs and 3-4 MHWs maximum. We usually have less staff than that though actually scheduled, so we work short.