Unsafe on the Psych Ward.

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I work on a 16 bed unit. When I first started a year ago we had safe nurse pt ratios. Here recently we are lucky if we have 2 nurses and 1 tech on most days. In the past year i have seen many nurses leave and more to go soon, and no new nurses being replaced. The floor has recently renovated the rooms but I can't help but to feel that they may be shutting this unit down soon. The higher up's are not making any strides to hire and train new nurses and the staff that we have left are burnt out and we fear our safety. We have psychotic pts who get violent. Is there any way that staff can find out if a floor is going to shut down soon? is there anyone staff can call to report the short staffing without backlash if found out? I am in in a contract and I am a new nurse (RN). Any advice is appreciated thanks!

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Personally I would consider any contract broken by the employer where there are serious staff/patient safety concerns and conditions have deteriorated significantly since the time the contract was signed. IANAL but if I stood to incur significant financial loss or damage to my professional reputation I would hire one to advance my assertion that the contract has been broken.

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1 RN for 18 patients highly acute psych with one tech.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
3 hours ago, KJE said:

1 RN for 18 patients highly acute psych with one tech.

That's about right _ I've had up to 26

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I work inpatient for the state. On overnights our minimum is 4 staff. And they mandate to make that happen. Its 1-2 RN's and 2-3 aides. We don't have census cap so we go between 23-32 pts (32 is the highest I've seen) for our unit.

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