I'm a new graduate that started orientation on a behavioral health unit about 2 weeks ago. Things are going pretty well and I am actually enjoying my new position. My preceptor is great, my reviews have been awesome. Unfortunately a new policy at work is making me consider jumping ship and finding a new job.
I work on a psych unit that is part of a regular medical hospital. Up until 2 weeks ago, when we hired a new administrator and DON, policy stated that the behavioral health nurses could not be floated to other units, unless it was in the capacity of a "sitter" for the mentally confused or psychotic. Well, needless to say, this didn't happen very often because the hospital doesn't want to pay an RN to do a job they could have a tech do for half the money.
Yesterday I got to work and it was posted that policy had been changed and that us psych nurses are required to float to all "non-critical" areas when a need arises. This includes postpartum, nursery, labor and delivery, telemetry, oncology, med\surg, and ER!
They are not offering any sort of orientation to these units. I'm a new grad so I still remember a lot of medical stuff from school, but some of the nurses on my floor haven't done anything besides psych for 35 years! There is no way they can jump in and hang on a telemetry floor. And it's like I have heard on so many posts here, it takes a year of post school education before you are truly competent in working in any specialty. It is sooo unsafe.
Our unit director spoke to the DON and she said something like, "If they can run a Pyxis they can work the floor." :trout:I'm sorry, but if the new DON doesn't realize that there is more to nursing than just handing out pills, this hospital is in a world of hurt.
So what do you guys think, should I hang in there? I really like this job but this floating thing has me terrified for my patients and my license. How would you feel having a psych nurse floated to your unit that was expected to hang drips and monitor postpartum mothers?
Personally it gives me chills thinking about it.:angryfire
Labor and delivery? ER? Nursery? With no training? This DON is nutty. I don't know if I would leave at this point, this DON is sure to get kicked out soon. In the mean time, refuse any assignment you aren't qualified for. That is perfectly acceptable, you have to protect your license.
crissrn27, RN
904 Posts
Labor and delivery? ER? Nursery? With no training? This DON is nutty. I don't know if I would leave at this point, this DON is sure to get kicked out soon. In the mean time, refuse any assignment you aren't qualified for. That is perfectly acceptable, you have to protect your license.