marshadolce

RNOToday, Your system totally baffles me. They mental health tech's here don't have any special training from the outside either, but they are expected to attend trainings here. As for the meds I still think your system is no where close to any kind of acceptable medication administration practice. Check with your board of pharmacy and your board of nursing in your state. You can do so anonymously, you don't have to tell them where you work. If you do let me know. Marshadolce

Hey RNOToday, Re: your questions on OTC's, I would think that your state laws wouldn't allow you to dispense OTC's without and order UNLESS you possibly had some "Standing Orders" policy that would cover you. Yes, there are people with little skill working in most of these facilities. A lot of them come from Juvenile Justice and don't necessarily make the transition from Corrections to Psych very well, in my opinion. But in Virginia where I'm from they DO NOT pass meds. Some Assisted Living places and Independent living places may use med techs but I think in this state if you are designated a hospital only nurses pass meds. Also, my facility does have mandatory overtime, but I've never heard of any place where you work for free unless you're management. You may have to work over and still get your usual salary. Some places pay their management staff straight time to work over or a certain amt less than their salary hourly to stay over. But as for your meds, no, no, no. I'm sure that is not legal by any state's standards. Drugs given by order to any person must have that persons name, the drug and dose and schedule on the bubble pak, bottle, cassette, whatever. Hope this helps--Marshadolce

Hi, to the nurse who wanted to know if anybody worked in residential behavioral centers for kids. I work in Virginia outside Richmond at a behavioral health center for kids 13-18 yrs old. I am the Staff Development director (and unofficial ADON). The regs are very different than hospitals or LTC. Its part psych and part detention. I love what I do even though I don't have direct interaction with the kids. The facility is small only 84 beds. The med pass is minimal. There are no IV's, no real health problems to speak of, but alot of general pediatrics, immunizations, injuries, asthma, that sort of thing. The one piece that might turn people off to working with this population is the occassional violence or potential for violence. The kid gets bad news from a therapist or from home and can go off quick. Our Mental Health techs are good and quick to react but sometimes accidents happen. Go ahead and ask your questions, I'm sure you'll some good reply's. We're out here--Marsha