MisPlacedTexan

Our intensive care unit has 20 beds, male and female mixed, with 2 RN's and 1 tech. Many times it's a dangerous, explosive environment. We have BEGGED management for 1 more tech. Naturally it fell on deaf ears. :angryfire

The incident was not a full blown rape. It was forcible female-to-female sodomy. With this in mind, would you still have the same response?

Has anyone on the board ever had a patient sexually assault another patient while being in a locked, inpatient unit? How was the situation handled by your superiors?

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No, things didn't get any better.....perhaps worse. I tried to talk to the DON about my concerns...staff/patient ratio, dangerous work environment, etc. It fell on deaf ears so I submitted my resignation. Since I resigned, a psychotic female was admitted, has assaulted several staff members, seriously injuring three of them, AND assaulted several patients. Still no new hires. I feel like I left just in the nick of time, but I feel for my former co-workers. The facility is a community based, not-for-profit 200 bed hospital.

Can anyone describe the symptoms of latex allergy? My hands are about to itch me to death!:angryfire I also have intense itching on other extremities but my hands seem to be the worst. First I thought it was an allergic reaction to cold medication I was taking, I discontinued that, and the itching continues. It's 5 days now! It got so intense yesterday, I had to go to the ER for a shot. It only worked for a few hrs., now the intense itching is back. Since I'm employed in the medical field and use latex, the first question the dr. asked was if I am allergic to latex. That had never crossed my mind. Now, I'm wondering if that is what has caused this horrible itch. Please...any info?

You are so correct! It's no longer enjoyable OR rewarding. The sad thing is I use to love my job, but am being forced to resign due to money hungry management with no heart. So long as they can keep their costs down and the Medicare money rolls in, I don't see things improving in the future. I can leave but the patients are the ones who will continue to suffer. It's too bad there are not some rules or regulations to insure quality care for this population.

We have a 14 bed unit staffed with 2 RN's and 1 tech. The poor tech is run ragged trying to do EVERYTHING while we give meds and chart. Only one of these patients is ambulatory, all in diapers, need to be spoon fed, etc. We have begged management for at the very least 1 more tech. No way, they say. It's extremely frustrating! I wish I new "where" to complain to get something done.

What do you consider to be a good staff to patient ratio?

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I'm about to start a new position on the geri-psych, locked unit of a city hospital. Have mostly worked with adult population, but have NO experience with the elderly. What do I have to look forward to?:)

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