Handling 1:1 patients

any · Aug 30, 2003

I used to be a nurse intern at a hospital, and I would go to work many nights and be assigned 1:1 with psych patients. Eventually, the nurse interns sitting 1:1 were replace by "aides" who were hired specifically to sit 1:1 with patients. They were paid less, which was beneficial for the hospital.

VaMedic · Aug 30, 2003

I work as an ER Tech II (Paramedic) while I am in nursing school. We are the ones that sit with the psychs on 1:1 in the ER where I work. It frees the nurses up and since most of us have street experince, we are well used to handling psych patients on our own. My managers are great with this and sometimes I do not mind it at all. They tell us to go in the room with the patient, sit back, flip on the TV (and watch what we want), and relax. lol.

RW

Brownms46 · Aug 30, 2003

I have been used on units while working agency as a "sitter" for such pts, but it only happened twice, as I couldn't stand it! I once went home rather than sit. Makes the nite waaaaay too long!

ktwlpn, LPN · Aug 31, 2003

Why don't we have geriatric units in acute care settings? This population has specialized needs just like peds and cardiac pts etc....We are living longer and more of us are becoming demented.Our older population is considered disposable in our society.

Rapheal · Aug 31, 2003

We call in a sitter. But this is a last resort. It really gets me upset when ER sends an acute pancreatitis, alcohol withdrawel patient with high ammonia levels who is out of their head. I think we should get a warning when the decision has been made to admit so that we could have a sitter on the way. They arrive and cause so much chaos while upsetting the other patients. Yes, they deserve good care, but until the sitter arrives it seems that the other patients and the staff must suffer.

peaceful2100, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2003

At the hospital I work for the PCT's/CNA's do the 1:1 for the patient. The nurse simply do the assessment/meds for the patient.

I have not had to do a 1:1 yet since I dropped down to PCT status and I am thankful for that. IT is VERY hard to do a 1:1 I done it before I graduated from nursing school and I was not given a break all night long at all. Not even to use the bathroom. It seems like the main reason people at my hospital hate to do 1:1 is for the fact that they are often forgotten about and they are the people who most need the break for the simple fact so they can stay awake since they are not up moving around when patient is sleeping. Typically the agency CNA's get dumped on with the 1:1's and if there are no available agency CNA's then the hospital's regular PCT's/CNA's are assigned the 1:1.

Audreyfay · Aug 31, 2003

I've only relieved for a 1:1. Found myself dozing within 15 minutes. Even dreamed the patient got out and ran away. :eek: I'm not cut out for it. One hospital I worked at had a Special Care Unit exactly for that. The staff members never left there. I guess it was a great staff.

VaMedic · Aug 31, 2003

lol. It always seems like the person doing the 1:1 needs 1:1 themselves when they are finished.