Anyone worked a "Medical Behavioral" floor?

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

I am considering applying for a position on the med/behavioral floor, and am unsure about what that means in the real world. I suppose that it will be a mix of psych and medical patients?

If anyone has experience on a floor with this title, please let me know what your experience on it was like. Is it much different from, say, my ortho floor, where we get the little old ladies with dementia and a broken hip or a bipolar bear of a guy who keeps reinfecting his knee incision by digging in it and taking all of his pain meds in two days and none of his antibiotics? (my latest and greatest frequent flyer)

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

May be psych patients with medical problems that have gotten worse d/t psych problems. I worked a combo unit for 3 years, it was a good unit, you have to do a little more visual assessing and limit setting with some patients at first but generally it is no big deal. Supplies and meds are locked up or in an area not accessable to patients in any way. This unit did a great job for the most part, I saw many unstable patients both mentally and physically return to a decent level of daily living on this unit. The medical docs and the psych docs have to have a very good level of communication. The nurses have to have a clear understanding of their roles. Therapists need input in all care too. If a patient has a deep decub from DM, needs wound care and dressings, it may impact the patient being able to attend group activities. Make sure everyone involved knows what is going on with patients. Our therapists set in on report, asked if they did not understand any changes, and made plans for groups and 1:1 accordingly. It made everyone's life easier and the patients got top knotch care.

Good luck if you decide to transfer. Blessing to you.