Unlicensed Psych tech supervisor over R.N.???

tempest · Jul 9, 2009

sounds frustrating, I agree with the previous post that the tech should not be influencing clinical/medical judgement. Is there a team process for decisions affecting care that include other professionals? I would find it personally difficult to work "under" a psych tech and would probably move on.

oopsy

tempest · Jul 9, 2009

I would say good bye. Unlicensed personnel should not be supervising nurses.
The story is interesting, because I worked on a hospital mental health unit where we had psych techs. The techs generally performed functions similar to those of a CNA on a medical unit, with a few additional responsibilities. They had to have at least 30 semester hours of college in a social science to qualify. They were also unlicensed. One of our techs believed that, because she had a BA in psychology, she ought to be supervising everyone ("I have more education than any of you", she would boast) and that she should be administering behavioral therapy. I was her shift manager. I finally got enough of her complaining and told her that the people she believed she should supervise were licensed by the state to practice their professions, and she was not. I also told her that if she wanted to compare transcripts I would be happy to do it (I also have a BA in psychology, but I went back to school to get my RN because the BA only qualified me for dead-end desk jobs). This tech was eventually fired, in large part because she was clandestinely conducting one-on-one counseling sessions that she was neither qualified nor authorized to conduct, and because she referred a patient to an outpatient treatment facility (on her own) that was not covered by the patient's insurance. Needless to say, our unit psychologists and program director were incensed.
We never found out what she was telling patients (she especially targeted young females), but once she held one of her "sessions" these patients wouldn't talk to any staff other than her. I have often wondered how much damage she did before our administration finally stopped her.

sounds like she had a PD and really liked staff splitting! lol

yai J, RN · Jul 9, 2009

I think you ought to trust your instincts... and move on! :twocents:

sayitgirl · Jul 23, 2009

They cannot open up that unit without an RN on the floor. You are being used. I worked one night in training in a nursing home that had a LPN as the shift supervisor and there was a RN there orientating me that had been there for two years. She told me that it had always been like that, but she was too timid to complain. This is the same as your circumstance. Find some where else to work.

RNVA2009 · Sep 2, 2009

well where I work, the head psych tech (now in administration) works with the nurse manager in every aspect including interviewing and hiring. She has 30+ years experience (to my 4 months) and she knows more about the drugs than most nurses, and most definately more about how to handle psychotic pt's than most nurses just due to the length of time on the job. I personally would have no problem "working under" her at all. I relished the opportunity to learn from her. I will take experience over a title and book knowledge any day!

Remember an RN is the only one that can do the nursing process... a tech can not ... i would move on b/c a tech should never be a RN supervisor... a tech does not have anywhere near the same training, that is way you have a license and remember what it took to get that license

I can understand if a tech helps with the training... we as nurses have to protect our job function... some techs have 2 week training w/ meds

Also remember all the training that you went to learning about medication... a tech does not know all the aspects of drug, drug/drug interaction, effect on body system... ect.

sounds like this place is just using your license