Advise please

Quilter0225 · Apr 22, 2009

I am a new grad 3 weeks out of orientation on an adolescent psych unit. I love my job! We usually staff 2 nurses and 3 MHS's for 12 pts. The charge nurse makes pt assignments, goes to rounds, takes off orders, does admissions and discharges, and fills out seclusion and restraint paperwork. The med nurse gives all scheduled and prn meds for all patients and helps with admissions and discharges and other paperwork. The MHS's, OT's and speech therapists do most of the groups. The nurses support the groups when they are not doing other things. Helping with groups helps you to get to know the pts better and allows you to know what is significant to chart. We work 8 hour shifts at my hospital. Do you want to know a typical daily schedule, or what to expect in orientation, or anything like that? I will be happy to tell you what it like where I work.

texasbsn · Apr 23, 2009

Yes please tell mr all how long and how was your orientation .also do any of your pt have any medical problems.Thank you sooo much

Jules A, MSN · Apr 23, 2009

How many patients do you both have on your units? Good luck!

SweetLemon · Apr 27, 2009

Don't worry, you will be incredibly surprised how fast you will pick it all up. As far as being alone on the unit, it can feel a bit overwhelming but remember you are never truly alone. You always have your supervisor you can call as well as other nurses on other units who can answer questions you might have. Good Luck I am super excited for you, make sure to take advantage of any training your facility is willing to give you.

stephva1008 · Apr 27, 2009

We have 15 beds on our unit. Not too many medical issues other than upset stomach, vomiting, fevers, etc. Some EPS, some diabetic kids. And the injuries from roughhousing, of course

You'll do fine! Welcome to child and adolescent!

Quilter0225 · Apr 28, 2009

My corporate/standard nursing orientation was about 3 weeks long. My psych nursing orientation was about 6 weeks long, including a week of classroom time. I felt fine, ready to be on my own, at the end of orientation. I worked 40 hrs a week during orientation, even though I am FTE 0.8, so I got a lot of experience. As soon as I got out of orientation I started picking up extra hours, so I usually work 40-48 hrs per week. Anything over 40 is time and a half. I also get $4 evening shift differential and $5 weekend differential, starting with Friday evening shift. We have twelve kids, occaisonally 13, and the unit is almost always full. The beds don't have a chance to get cold from a discharge before the next kid comes in! We are one of two adolescent units in our facility. Our unit has a higher acuity than the other unit, d/t the fact that we have some private rooms and the other unit doesn't. I usually only have to chart on 2-3 pts. Our staffing is great! One day last week I was the only nurse on the unit. We had three discharges, one complete admission, and two in the process by the end of my shift. I had great support from the MHS staff, and it went smoothly. Our nurse care manager and my manager also helped me out. I had to laugh yesterday. A new orientee asked me how many years I had worked there! I have gotten really good feedback from my manager and other staff, too. It helps me feel confident. I feel like I have found my niche!