Safe nurse/patient ratios in Psych?

Just wondering if there are any guidelines for safe staffing in in-patient psych. I work in an acute children's and adolescent psych hospital and while I love my job I am often caring for 18 patients and I am the only RN on the floor. With 2 psych techs and an LVN who passes meds. Today we had 36 patients (with very high acuity) staffing was two RN's 4 psch techs and 1 lvn. I might add that we had no male staff and had to do 4 take downs. I'm hurting all over tonight.

Does anyone know what the safe staffing standards are in California?

Hppygr8ful

I believe it is 1 RN to 6 patients

The staffing level you described should be criminal. I've done that beforen but won't again. That's why I Travel.

CJ

www.TravelNurseToolbox.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hppygr8ful

Does anyone know what the safe staffing standards are in California?

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I work on a Child / Adol Unit in California and the ratio is 6:1. The most we can have is 15 patients on our unit.

With the staffing you just mentioned, I would be complaining and / or finding a new job. The staffing is unsafe and it only takes one time to really and truly get hurt then you won't be able to work again.

I'd take it up your chain of command. It's unsafe for everyone on the unit.

Bottom line: is your license worth it? If something goes down and a patient, God forbid, kills themself the RNs are ultimately responsible because they had the clinical judgement to know the situation was unsafe.

I've done my research and the 1:6 ration is for Psych Units within an acute hospital. There are no requirements for free standing psych hospitals in California. Although the California Nurses association is pushing for a suggested 1 to 8 or 10 patients. Which I still think is dangerous. Our hospital is a private for profit hospital so they will fight ratios to the end. I could leave but except for the staffing issues it's a pretty good place to work. I get to pick my own hours and today when my son got sick at school the nursing supervisor relieved me so I could go home. I've got about 152 hours of PTO so I guess I'll get paid and bake cookies today!

Peace

Hppygr8ful

I'm at Rush in Chicago. Typical day is two or three to chart on and meds, maybe two or three more to pass meds on (the MHW charts). I've never cared for more than six, even on our worst day.

Sometimes we have 36 or more, adolescents girls with only 2 nurses, and mental health associates (maybe 4-6), and always take downs and prns and codes....or the adults up to 30's with only 2 nurses, and 4-6 techs but that involves the code blue's and prns, etc. i had two admissions with the third coming at the change of the shift with a code blue last night (seizure activity) which included a transfer to the local ER with teh paperwork!! So i have yet to find a good staff--to-patient ratio that is safe!!

Jeez, where are you at? That is not safe. Sounds like one of those situations where things won't change until someone gets hurt.