Competencies

I'm at a new freestanding psych hospital and I'm alarmed at the lack of training and competencies. I'm used to med surg at a large hospital so maybe this is culture shock but is it normal to have new med administration tools without being trained on it? ...I told a supervisor that I hadn't been trained on these and she told me that complaining won't help. I was floored! I emailed my nurse manager and DON about it and they said they'd offer optional training. Aren't there regs on this??

Wow. That's real bummer that your supervisor doesn't support you on your endeavor to learn, PsychRNPA.

This response sounds familiar, like one that would be given at Wrongway Regional Medical Center.

Dealing with medical concerns and treatment in Psych can be a sticky wicket. Psych nurses typically have a varying range of medical experience, from none to those who are quite comfortable with conditions and procedures. It's good that your actions alerted those in charge and got some balls rolling.

I have no idea if there are any regs on competencies in this area. Usually Joint Commission agents are busy finding non-existent areas of concern on which administration wastes time and energy resolving. True areas of concern are often ignored.

For example, Wrongway recently implemented a new computer program for inputting physician orders without notifying or training staff on the process. It was a Learn As You Go situation. Astute and computer savvy coworkers were really helpful at that time!

Yes, it's common where I work. There's always someone around who's seen it and knows how it works, though.

This sounds normal for some places. I worked in a facility that used epi-pens and never had official training on them so I just read the package insert. I wouldn't worry about it, just ask if you are unable to figure it out.

Your responses, Sour Lemon and Daisy4RN, reminded me of a situation which occurred nearly 15 years ago. We had a LOL on geriatric psych who was to wear a shoulder immobilizer. When I came in to work one night, she was wearing it incorrectly. So I drew up some instructions and put them in her chart for the benefit of nurses ignorant in its application:

In going through my archives and locating the drawing, upon seeing it, I remembered the patient and her room number, but not her name.

No HIPAA violation here, I guess!

Good luck to you, PsychRNPA!

Oh- and welcome to AN.com!

Well...they are ignored until a sentinel event happens. Does your facility have an Educator? That would be where I would start.