Mental Health Nurses please!

A group of us at my work have got together a 'Working Party for Intensive Care Unit' (psychiatric ) we are interested in hearing how other units work.

We are attempting to bring in a new policy that entails what is permitted in an ICU area, i.e patient belongings, how to assess visitors, the general run of the day today nursing. What is your physical layout of ICU like, what rules are in place for staff patients etc, do you permit the wearing of their own clothing. Any feedback much appreciated. Our unit is not working at the level it should so any ideas will be great. Thanks:23:

Mopsy --
Please DON'T write a policy! You can't change behavior with policy. Instead, take a look at the principles of a "healthy work environment" (yes, dear, look it up in the nursing literature!)

When a unit isn't working (as well as it could, or as well as it should) a good place to start is by examining your committment to relationship management -- relationships with each other (side-by-side and shift-to-shift) your relationships with management AND your relationships with the community you serve.

Taking responsibility for building positive and healthy work relationships can open the doors for LOTS of other successes.

You can find much about this concept in the surgical literature (AORN Journal) and probably in the ICU literature as well!

--p