Safety of Nurses in Atascadero Mental Hospital

Sheri257 · Jun 12, 2006

I don't know about Atascadero specifically but, I have done a clinical rotation at another state hospital where there are similar safety issues.

Here are some of the problems I have been able to confirm first hand: a doctor got his jaw broken, a psych tech was choked to the point of brain damage and, during our rotation, an RN was stabbed. Since the patients aren't considered "inmates" they do walk around with a lot of freedom and you can be vulnerable.

On the other hand, hospital police will tell you that most of the incidents happen because of mismanagement or oversight by the staff. The doctor, for example, was warned about the patient who attacked him. The staff did tell the MD that the patient was escalating. But, the doctor made the mistake of turning his back on the guy, who was a paranoid schizophrenic. Not that I'm saying it was completely the doctor's fault but, from what I understand, he could have been more careful or taken more precautions by making sure staff was with him, etc.

One day during our rotation, a patient got really violent and there was a big take down. However, I later learned that the patient was trying to get something to eat because, somehow, the staff had forgotten to take him to the cafeteria for breakfast. He kept asking for something to eat and the psych tech was really rude to the patient and told him no, he would only eat when she said so. By all accounts, the whole situation could have been avoided.

Basically, it all depends on which unit you're on and whether it's managed well. There are good units and bad units. If you're assigned to a good unit where the staff and management are looking out for things and preventing problems then, you're probably going to be ok. But if you get assigned to a "bad" unit where the staff and management isn't doing a good job then, that's where the really bad stuff happens.

:typing

meyo · Jun 13, 2006

Hi Lizz. Thank you very much for the info. Your answer is very enlightening.

tirzo13 · Sep 30, 2006

I did my preceptorship at ASH/atascadero state hospital.

it is a safe place in general, but there is assaults.

actually i work at a prison now, and it is 100 times safer.

at the prison you have many correctional officers to protect you.

at ASH, you are it, you are the staff.

at the prison you have big cops to take down the big prisoner.

at ASH you have petite ladies to back you up when the patient attacks you.

many of the patients at ASH are criminals who would otherwise be in prison.

violent criminals, who somehow convinced someone that they have a mental disorder to avoid prison.

not sure what is worse though, having a person with a mental disorder attack you, or a normal person.

but at ASH both can.

there are minor assaults such as slaps, misguided punches that land on your arm, then there has been full on beatdowns of staff in the stair way, even rape.

not to scare you, but there is a level of danger due to the patients and the lack of staff.

a prison is really safer.

not saying anything will ever happen to you, but things do happen to staff at both ASH and the state prisons.

Letdsunshine · May 29, 2009

I have applied for Atascadero. Do you think it is a nice place to work? Please give me information on what is going on there? Are they paying nurses well?

tirzo13 · May 29, 2009

I did my training at ASH, and i worked at NAPA in addition to 3 prisons.

Not to sound like a jerk, but NICE depends on what you are looking for.

There are safer jobs.

There are more rewarding jobs (spiritually vs. monetary) help the women who was raped, or the rapist?

In this society guess who gets more help?

At ASH you will be working/helping and advocating for those who have raped and murdered.

Its not easy for some people to get around that.

Some people don't think about it, they just do the job and go home.

Some people get burned out since its not what they went to nursing school for.

Some people like the challenge of the job, and tell themself they are helping a disadvantaged group of society and its not their place to judge.

Teamwork is good, you have to have a good team, because hopefully they got your back, remember, this is not prison, no correctional officers to watch you, and in prison, the inmates are safer then these guys.

In general you are not as busy.

You can pee, you can eat, you can actually sit.

Can't say the same for many hospitals i worked at.

Not to encourage anyone, but most supervisors i have worked with won't come down on you for being a little late to work, from lunch or leaving early.

How much is a little varies!!!!

If you have not worked psych you may not like it.

If you have not worked forensic psych you may not like it.

if you have worked forensic psych, things may be slightly different like any job, but in general you will get along fine.

You might try to get into the acute medical unit of ASH to get a kind of transition from "regular" nursing to forensic psych.

Brujita · Jan 21, 2010

I work at Atascadero State Hospital as an RN. Atascadero, ASH, is located in a lovely part of California, however, the mind-set of the people in charge of the RNs is archaic. Most RNs must work 8 hour shifts - 5 of 'em every week. A small group of RNs are able to work 12 hour shifts, but these are actually 12 1/2 hour shifts. Nearly all RNs take their orders from a lesser-licensed psychiatric technician (PT) - a person with a minimum of a GED and 1 year of vocational training. It is appalling to be evaluated by a non-RN.

At this point in time, due to the state budget crisis, all state employees lose 14% of their salary. Because ASH is a 24/7 facility, RNs and other level of care, work their entire week, but accrue furlough hours to use later - 24 hours per month. Sadly, we are unable to actually use these. ASH applies furlough hours to vacation time or sick time that is used, but those lacking seniority are unable to get their full earned vacation time and some RNs have received letters of instruction for taking occasional sick days.

Depending on the unit you work, ASH can be relatively safe or very unsafe. Considering many PTs are under 25 years old and a great many PTs of any age have fewer than 5 years of work experience at ASH, dangerous situations frequently occur due to their inexperience and immaturity.

If given a choice again, I'd go to the prisons - CDCR is much safer and you'll be able to actually do RN work, instead of sitting on 1:1s, taking out the trash, scrubbing floors (yes, RNs actually were required to do this before the recent DOJ visit on my unit!).

caliotter3 · Jan 21, 2010

My dad worked at ASH for almost 20 years and never complained about it being unsafe. He was never assaulted on the job, which is a lot more than I can say about my home health nursing jobs.