Studer in Acute Psychiatric Unit

[maxthecat]

This is part rant, part request for info. Our hospital has decided to adopt the Studer principles. Rumor has it that there is a specific part of Studer adapted for use in acute adult psychiatric units, but our director has not yet revealed what it is. Do any of you use Studer on acute adult psych, and if so, what does it look like in daily practice?

I am somewhat familiar with some of the general Studer implementations, such as scripts, hourly rounding, etc. I guess I just have trouble with the idea of psych nurses needing to be instructed how to communicate with patients, visitors, families, co-workers. Isn't communication supposed to be our forte? If we can't already communicate effectively, what are we doing in psych?

On one hand management says "you must be Professionals--get more education, take accountabilty for your own practice---while on the other nurses are treated like kindergartners who don't know how to communicate effectively or how often to check on their patients. Which is it? I can be a professional or I can be a hack in the Studer System--I just can't figure out how to be both. But maybe there is information I am not aware of, so enlighten me, folks!

[DavidLCPCCSADC]

I suspect that what you're dealing with is just a rumour. The Studer principles are good solid principles and there's nothing wrong with the principles. Now, how administration attempts to put them in place may be another matter. If you're not already using the Press Gainey surveys then that will be an interesting experience....it will give you and the staff some insight to how you are viewed by your patients.

Although we are in the helping field and we should know how to communicate with patients, MDs, administration, and our peers, I'm always amazed at how little those skills are practiced and valued on a day to day basis. Course, YMMV.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Quint Studer and leadership principles:

http://www.user-groups.net/articles/business_tactics.html