Psych nurses being forced to float to med surg and tele?

psychnursie · Nov 20, 2015

RYAN!!

psychnursie · Nov 20, 2015

absolutely not would I float!

caliotter3 · Nov 20, 2015

Like any major policy change, whether practical or not, those instituting the change will be content when they have a workforce that is complacent with the change. There will be people who stand up against certain policies and who find it necessary to leave their jobs, and those who just roll over and flow with the tide. At some point the individual must reconcile their need for earning a living with the level of unacceptable policies they have to contend with.

OCNRN63, RN · Nov 20, 2015

My first job (30y ago) was in psych. I was certain I would never work in anything but psych. After about 4 years I could see the writing on the wall for our unit; decreasing admissions, staff taking low census days. I decided to make a change before it was forced upon me. I took a job in peds. That job was a springboard for many interesting jobs I never would have had if I'd dug in my heels and refused to do anything but psych.

I understand not wanting to float, so you'll have to do what works for you. I do think you would be well within your rights to at least ask for longer orientation. Three or four days isn't enough. If you are definitely going to float, see if you can take an ACLS class. That might take some of the anxiety out of floating to tele. ACLS classes these days are very laid back; nothing like years ago when they terrorized you.

nurseactivist · Nov 20, 2015

I looked at several union contracts and found a few things that might be helpful. One large HMO has to pay a 5% differential to any nurse required to float after adequate training. A real motivation to not float RNs.

There is a lot of language about floating being assigned by inverse seniority. It is a fair question, are they going to ask the same 3 nurses to float over and over? How is the assignment going to be done/rotated?

I suggest all involved get together and discuss the issue. If you can all agree that the training is insufficient, then say that as a group. (I can't imagine the training proposed is adequate). The more you can agree amoung yourselves and present a unified response, the better. If you could then write up a unified response and all sign on, you would have a better chance of getting either improved training or less floating assignments. Having one or two nurses leave is not the solution.

One thing to consider is are there some nurses who are interested if appropriately cross trained?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

Med-surg...I'd probably go. I've worked psych-medical so I have been keeping up some of the M/S skills. But I would expect that orientation/training before I took on my own patient load.

Tele, no way! I have no tele experience and just the basic training in reading EKGs. That would be courting trouble.

Nurse Leigh · Nov 21, 2015

It's a new trend. RN means I can do any RN job in the hospital. At least where I work.

Yep. And yet, when suggested to the house supervisor that perhaps one of our *own* floor supervisors who was ON CALL could come in and help out since we'd otherwise have, like, 7 pts (including the charge nurse) no techs and we hired no unit clerks or monitor techs, we were informed that mgmt nurses could not be expected to come to the floor and actually take patients. The gall of us to suggest it. :confused:

lovetosleep · Nov 21, 2015

Wow, thank you for all the replies. To answer some of your questions, we have no union. Our entire unit had a meeting amongst ourselves to discuss this and try to get on the same page. We all agree that it is not enough training and will not be safe. No one has any desire to learn or be trained for other floors.

We had a meeting with our manager to discuss our concerns and it did not go very well. We were told 3-4 days should be plenty because we are experienced nurses (psych nurses ðŸ˜¤) and that if we don't like what will be required of us we don't have to work here anymore.

They will float anyone getting overtime first, then per diem, part time, and full time. We only had 2 per diem nurses who put in their notice after the meeting, it is mostly full time people on our floor so we should get floated evenly. This seems hopeless.

Muddingirlnurse · May 25, 2016

My sister is a psych tech and has been pulled to the IMC the past 2 nights to tech. She is so upset because she doesn't feel that she has the proper training for the unit.

Janetnzrn · May 25, 2016

All the hospitals I've ever worked in have floated RNs >25years In one hospital we got a $4 increase, another said float or quit, the one I'm working now (NICU), we float to Paeds and Post natal, take full assignments and anywhere else we task. Some nurses here have never worked with adults, we get floaters here that task or take an easy load. Just make sure that you ask as a group for more orientation, and document document document especially all your questions of staff and include their name! and DRs. I'm union and this is written into our contract, however the management does acknowledge NICU as a weird specialty. Good Luck! but maybe you should start job hunting

Kylie2273 · May 25, 2016

Im a telemetry nurse that gets pulled to psych ane is expected to chart and pass meds... door goes both ways

MommaAnna · May 25, 2016

Terrible idea! I work PRN in all the departments in my rural hospital (ER,med/surg, Geri-psych) and I can tell you from experience that it is VERY hard transitioning back and forth between specialties. This is the only job I've ever had as a nurse so I don't know any different but it's a completely different mind-set from department to department. Yes, we all went to nursing school and learned the same things but the saying is "if you don't use it, you lose it." If you haven't managed a medically unstable pt in years, then you are going to be pretty rusty until you get the swing of things. I think if they are going to make you guys float, then you need more of an orientation for the sake of the pts. In psych, everyone is more or less "stable" medically but you have to manage the milieu of the unit and monitor/document/intervene on behaviors which is a valuable "skill" in itself. It takes SKILL to deescalate the manic pt, encourage the depressed pt, and be patient with the repetitive geriatric pt. Psych nurses are a special breed and to take you guys out of your "element" and throw you into med/surg will result in nothing but negativity, job dissatisfaction, and grief.