Future of PSI, Inc and UHS?

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Those of us Psych Nurses who are working for the 2 largest Psych organizations, what do you think the future holds for us? I particularly work for a PSI hospital here in CA and would be eager to hear some opinions on what the merger/acquisition entails.

Any comments are appreciated.

Hello rayfocker and fellow RNs,

I am a new grad and very much need work. It has been tough since I graduated in 06/2010 you know with the economy and not having the experience. I was just called back unexpectedly yesterday by a psych facility in SoCal about working per diem. She said they were just acquired by UHS and are open to hiring new grads. She wanted to know if I was really interested in psych because she mentioned she didn't want me leaving after 3 months, which too me is kind of bad sign that they are concerned about turn over. Anyway she called me for an interview tomorrow.

What do you think about working there would you recommend it especially for a new grad? What is the orientation like? What is the nurse to patient ratio? Anything I should be concerned about?

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Specializes in Psych- child, adolescent, adult, and CD.

A friend who just gave her 2 week notice at the UHS facility that I used to work at talked to me last week about the staffing. On day shift they are running a unit with 23 acute patients with 1 RN, 1 LPN (med nurse), and 1 tech--insane! Census has to reach 24 before they are allowed a 2nd RN. I can't remember the specifics for the other shifts, but they were just as crazy. That might explain their concern/reason for a high turnover rate in nurses. I know I'll certainly try to NEVER work for another UHS facility. Good luck in your job hunt.

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Aurora21....Hi! I was wondering how your experience is going so far......I am a new grad that has an interview set for next week a psych facility....I ogrinally wanted to go into a med/surg type thing but this is the only call back that I've gotten so far so Im considering it...

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Aurora21....Hi! I was wondering how your experience is going so far......I am a new grad that has an interview set for next week a psych facility....I ogrinally wanted to go into a med/surg type thing but this is the only call back that I've gotten so far so Im considering it...

Well, I was called in for an interview with someone from HR and never got the second interview. Which is fine because I got another job somewhere which is better for me and I didn't have the best feeling about that place anyway. She just asked, "What do you know about our facility?", "Why psych?", "Why our hospital?" She wanted to make sure I was really committed to working there if I got hired. She explained that they have about 1 staff member to 4 patients, someone to pass out meds, and two RNs (one of which acts as charge). She also said for example they can have up to 40 pts. on an adolescent unit, but that they are usually overstaffed if anything. The orientation would be 3-7 days. I just haven't heard the best things about UHS so far and they could only hire me per diem. That and I would have to drive a little out of the way, but had they offered me a job and I didn't have anything else I probably would have taken it. Some places do want that med-surg background before going into psych, but this UHS hospital didn't have a problem with it.

Good luck with your interview! Just try to be open-minded and ask questions. If they give you a tour maybe you can even get to ask one of the nurses how they like it.

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