Co-Workers saying other unit is horrible

drmorton2b · Oct 23, 2010

I work in a very small Psychiatric Hospital. We have general an adult psychiatric unit that is very well run and a crisis unit on another floor.

I am a new grad LPN. I have a background in the Psychiatric setting all ready in a past career.

There is a full time position opening on the floor below at the Crisis Center (has 22 Beds).

All of the nurses I work with on my current unit (I am part time) have worked on this unit. Nurses that have been nurses at this facility for about 5 to 10 years.

They all say the unit is horrible run because on this particular shift:

-The nurses take all the admissions and this case do all the insurance work (PA, requests, etc.)

-2 Nurses 1 LPN, 1 RN and up to 8 admissions a night (or more)

-Multiple meds in some cases Detox meds (CIWA=Librium, COWS=Methadone)

-Of course the usual stuff psych/detox patients do behavorially which I can handle very well.

Now this all seems doable.. but now you get to play secretary and make copies of a bunch of paper work. These nurses over exageratte.

I have worked down there before during the day, but there is a dedicated UR Nurse and Admissions nurse.

My opinion on this is that I need to try it out for myself on this shift. I am sure I can handle it. I just don't want to risk my license. But besides missing an obvious medical condition or a withdrawal issue. I don't see any issues. Besides admissions being 24/7.

The question is have you ever been in a situation where other nurses say oh that place is horrible.. or you will be putting your license at risk?

I have heard this in the past from other nurses in other facilities about unrelated things. It seems to be common place everywhere. Every place is bad to work for.

With my time management skills I will do what I can do. We have cordless phones, etc.

Ironically my biggest concern is the stupid copier machine which I have yet to use breaking.

I think this would be a good learning experience for me, given the nature of these patients in the crisis unit. However, I plan to move back up to the my current part time unit as soon as a FT position opens up here.