ONE RN PER SHIFT, the rest LVN and TECHS.

[lsvalliant]

Hi all! I am starting my nw psych job in Gero (voluntary unit) in a couple weeks and I'm really excited to finally be going into psych from med/surg. :loveya:Its a brand nw unit and the manager told me there's only one RN (me), plus one charge, and the rest LVN and techs per shift. Do any of you work in a situation like this? What are the RN's primary responsibilities? How is it different from the LVN position?

[Jules A, MSN]

Again it probably depends on your facility. At mine there are very few differences and our LPNs are fabulous. What does your state's Nurse Practice Act dictate and what are the facilities policies? Good luck I hope you like it.

[WillyNilly]

Thats the way it works with ours only we dont have a charge. Its one RN and one LPN and maybe a tech depending on census. The RN is responsible for checking the LPNs assessments in addition to doing their own assessments, meds, charting, IVs (depending on policy) etc. The RN checks orders, does admissions, discharges and pretty much a lot of paperwork. If you have a charge, they should handle that part. It all depends on the schedule you work, census and policy

[thegreenmile]

This seems to be happening every where! In our facility, we did not hire LPN's until we couldnt recruit or retain any RN's because the CEO would only authorize part-time/no benefit positions. Then the bright idea came to post 6 PT, No bene jobs for LPN's. We got em' but the turnover rate is astronomical and the Lonely RN is overworked with everything that's not within the scope of practice for an LPN. In our state, LPN's dont call Doc's, obtain or write or note orders, dont do assessments or develop care plans and they look to the RN license for critical thinking skills to make tough decisions. Basically, they are a tech with license to administer meds, most everthing else is diverted to the RN. It's tough to run an acute inpatient psych unit under these cirumstances. The day shift has more licenses than the off shifts, but I can see this happening on days as well as our RN's retire or exit for other reasons.

[Jules A, MSN]

This seems to be happening every where! In our facility, we did not hire LPN's until we couldnt recruit or retain any RN's because the CEO would only authorize part-time/no benefit positions. Then the bright idea came to post 6 PT, No bene jobs for LPN's. We got em' but the turnover rate is astronomical and the Lonely RN is overworked with everything that's not within the scope of practice for an LPN. In our state, LPN's dont call Doc's, obtain or write or note orders, dont do assessments or develop care plans and they look to the RN license for critical thinking skills to make tough decisions. Basically, they are a tech with license to administer meds, most everthing else is diverted to the RN. It's tough to run an acute inpatient psych unit under these cirumstances. The day shift has more licenses than the off shifts, but I can see this happening on days as well as our RN's retire or exit for other reasons.

Wow that would stink. The only things to the best of my knowledge that our LPNs can't do are restraint/seclusion orders and the admission assessment. I'd check your states Nurse Practice Act and lobby your facility to update their policies if your LPNs aren't being utilized to their full potential.