Psych nurse cross training to MS

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

So I've been a nurse for three years now. I have (and still do) work primarily psych. I also did LTC for about a year when I graduated in 2012. Med-surge is somewhat different from psych, and I feel like I'm not getting the best orientation because "you're already a nurse" as told to me by the Clinical Educator. I do understand, but again my experience is primarily in psych. I am orienting just once or twice week on the MS/Tele/Obser floor because I work weekends, and I cant get overtime as a MS orientee. My 24 weekend plus two 8 hr shifts is 40hrs the week. So I feel very limited, because once or twice or week is not enough to make me feel comfortable. My educator doesn't seem to understand this. Anywhoo, any suggestions as to how to make this transition a little easier? Thanks!

[SierraBravo]

I can totally appreciate your concern. And I agree with you, yes you are a nurse, but psych nursing is very specialized. Let's face it, depending on the area you work in you probably don't do much, if any, IV stuff, physical assessments, lab interpretation, critical thinking as it relates to pathophysiology and medicine, ABG interpretation, etc... I'm not saying this to denigrate psych nurses, but it is what it is.

I would sit down with your nurse manager and say exactly what you said in your post. You can always play the "safety" card and say that the amount of orientation/training isn't adequate to allow you to provide safe care to med/surg patients. The reality is that there is very little overlap between the two specialties, so while your psych experience will benefit you in certain circumstances, you still need to get up to speed on the medical aspect of the job.

[blackribbon]

I hate to say it but the trend, even for new grad nurses is leaning toward very short orientations. I had 6 weeks (plus one more bonus one) of 3 days a week (12 hour shifts) .... so a total of 21 days...and out of those twenty one days....8 were spent in class room study and not on the floor. I was hired into their "GN Residency" program. This hospital used to offer 12 week orientation for new grads...not anymore. I have a friend who a specialty oncology/hospice floor expected him to be prepared to work independently in 6 weeks (again, at least one of those weeks was in the classroom stuff). He was just told he was "too slow" though he is very "knowledgeable". He found out he really was hired for a position that was supposed to require 3 years experience but they couldn't find anyone so they turned it into a GN position but only lengthened the orientation by two weeks. Incredibly, he believes he has been told to resign or get fired...this rather than invest another couple weeks training him. Although he is stressed out, he actually likes working this unit. Why they would rather start all over than invest another couple weeks in him, I will never know? It doesn't make fiscal sense.

It is scary out there...in my opinion, they are setting us up for failure. I would come off a shift..needing to sleep for the entire time I was off but finding myself forced to spend a couple hours looking up things so I could offer better care when I returned that night.