New MI psych RN- all hospitals have mandatory OT?

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I will be moving to MI. Have only practiced in CA. Trying to find out differences between regulations, etc in MI compared to CA. Interviewed today for a VA RN job and they mentioned "mandating". Had to ask them to explain what it was as they don't have it where I work in CA. Sounds like mandatory overtime and would have to work yup to 16 hrs in 1 shift.

I thought Joint Commission no longer allowed nurses to work beyond 12 hr shift. That's the way it is here in CA.

So now I'm curious what other surprises I might come across as an RN in MI. I trained in NV so all my nursing experience is from West Coast.

Also, interviewed for VA position in Battle Creek, MI. Are there any hospitals that I should stay away from b/c they treat nurses terribly?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Not all hospitals have mandated shifts. It depends on the union contract where you work. Where I work, they don't mandate you. The only time they've kept previous nurses over to the next shift is during emergency situations. There's another hospital in this area that mandates all the time. Different union contract, different results.

I did my psych rotation at the VA in Battle Creek and I enjoyed it there. They certainly need nurses at that facility. They were offering to hire us upon graduation. It was just too far away to drive (and I didn't want to go in to Psych), but the benefits were really good.

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Thanks for the response. I currently work at a VA in San Diego and they don't allow you to work over 12hr. Why are they needing so many RNs? Curious, since high turnover can say alot about management, etc. What did you like about the unit? My husband plans to take a job in Battle Creek so we plan to move to Marshall or Portage area. From what I've read Battle Creek public schools are terrible.

Did you visit any other psych departments in the area? Curious if other hospitals were worse or better. Thanks!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Thanks for the response. I currently work at a VA in San Diego and they don't allow you to work over 12hr. Why are they needing so many RNs? Curious, since high turnover can say alot about management, etc. What did you like about the unit? My husband plans to take a job in Battle Creek so we plan to move to Marshall or Portage area. From what I've read Battle Creek public schools are terrible.

Did you visit any other psych departments in the area? Curious if other hospitals were worse or better. Thanks!

There are 2 Big Ten universities in our area, so most nurses tend to gravitate towards the larger hospitals instead of the VA. The VA recruiter was offering us 4 weeks vacation to start. It was a tempting offer, but psych isn't my passion and it's an hour drive each way for me to get there. There's also another hospital in Battle Creek so nurses tend to want to work there instead of the VA in Battle Creek. The VA there is not a completely full service location. They are mostly inpatient psych and urgent care. The full VA hospitals are in Grand Rapids, Detroit, etc.

I did my psych rotation on the lock-down unit and had a great experience there. The nurses taught us a lot and I had a preceptor who has worked there for years. The only other psych dept I've been to is Gero-Psych at McLaren in Lansing. I didn't care for it as much as the VA. That's my limited exposure to psych. A classmate of mine went in to psych at Sparrow and she loves it.

If you're going to be on the west side of Michigan, you should look at the VA, Bronson & Spectrum. There's also an excellent facility in before you get to Grand Rapids called Pine Rest. They do children, adolescent & adult inpatient & outpatient psych. Wonderful facility! I had a family member who went there and I was very impressed.

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Thanks for all of the great info. I'm a Nebraska Corn huskers fan so other than the school in Ann Arbor had no idea there was another big 10 school. Lol.

You mentioned your friend works in Psych at Sparrow. What town is that located in? Does your friend know of any other good psych departments? What is the main hospital in Battle Creek? Didn't see one on our quick trip thru area for house hunting. I am trying to keep my commute less than 30 min since not sure how quick or we'll roads get plowed in Portage/ Battle Creek area.

Have had a 1 hour commute for several years here in Southern California...tired of long commute. Lol. My husband is willing to have longer commute if I need to work in Grand Rapids.

Thanks again for your time in answering questions. It's very appreciated.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

If I had to choose, hands-down I'd select Pine Rest in Grand Rapids. It's the nicest facility, in a good location, nice neighborhoods, etc. Battle Creek has a lot more crime. Bronson has a hospital in Battle Creek (their main hospital is in Kalamazoo). My friend who works psych at Sparrow is a new grad, so that's the only place she's ever been. It's located in Lansing (state capital).

Good luck with your job search :)

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

There is a psych facility at Borgess in Kalamazoo. They do 8-hour shifts there, and they have separate units for pediatrics, mood disorder, thought disorder, and geriatric. (I did clinicals there.)

Bronson has hospitals in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Paw Paw, with geriatric-psych in the Paw Paw hospital and inpatient psych at a separate facility in Battle Creek called Fieldstone; Bronson doesn't do psych in Kalamazoo at all.

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