solagratia

Hi all, Lately at work we seem to be short-staffed chronically... what I would like to know is, is there a standard for psych staffing? I know that california lists 1:6 as the "psych requirement", but I don't know if that is on the mark. Where I work it is not unusual to have over 10 pts per nurse, and possibly be responsible for the 2-3 kids on the adolescent unit (which they staffed with 1 mental health tech, no nurse). Am I being unrealistic in my staffing expectations (like (I work 3-11, which is an admit-heavy shift.) Thanks in advance, you guys always seem to give insightful feedback.

Thanks Elk! (as to asking our docs... we've learned that they are doctors, NOT lawyers, they regularly say/do things that are contrary to the Baker Act. We have a constant dialogue with them about requirements of the law.)

Thanks for the feedback, elk. Another question if you don't mind - when someone comes in, you are the initial assessing nurse, there is a true HI with a plan and means situation, and you document this, are you covered if the treatment team decides not to warn and something bad happens? I guess I see a parallel between this and the duty to report suspected child/elder abuse (which maybe there's no parallel), and passing the buck when it comes to reporting to DCF is not acceptable where I work. So what would one need to do documentation-wise when you document real homicidal threats? Document that the doctor was notified? Would that be enough to CYA legally? Thanks for the info! And Meercat... are you panhandle or south FL?

I have had to do a few... and the doctor was never involved. (but the house supervisor ALWAYS was). The supervisors just see it as a law, and if we don't follow it, then we are liable, especially if we have in black and white that this person is making homicidal threats against someone. Elk, are we setting ourselves up for repercussions by not going through the doctors? Our doctors would probably wonder why we were asking them when we knew the law...

More education on common diseases such as diabetes, chf, etc and the interaction with psychotropics...

Hi, I've been thinking about traveling, just got my RNC in mental health and have a little over 2 yrs experience in psych (acute unit, adult, adolescent, admissions) and love this specialty. (also have 1 year experience on a stepdown unit). Anyone have any travel psych experiences they'd care to share? (Or advice?) I would want to travel in pysch only - meaning no floating. I'm researching companies at this time, will probably be traveling by summer, hopefully! Thanks!