The lack of communication, it can be very stressful to do what you are trained to do when leaders do not communicate effectively. Each shift can vary meaning you can be placed into a different role each day though leaders will switch things around due to staffing and it may not be for the better outcome. When other associates voice their concerns it is often overlooked because we are not the leaders or charge though we do spend most of our days creating relationships and bonds with patients because it is our job to report back to their assigned nurse. I have noticed this with many places I’ve worked there is specific groups of people who are very cliquey and often gravitate to management and build those great relationships. Sadly those are the same groups who often have very snarky and cheeky remarks to people “below” them so when it comes to reporting these instances you’re often overlooked at as if you are someone who is “complaining” or a “ nuisance” management usually will use their emails to communicate so for someone who likes to have the one on one conversation this is not very effective as people are busy and attend to other things then reading their emails about an instance. There is a high turnover due to the type of job this is. It can be very hands on and stressful at times but I believe it is also due to the staff that are in charge picking at certain people and making snarky remarks it’s understandable to have a bad day but not appropriate to be chewing off the heads of your coworkers who are trying to make it a better day for you. There isn’t much of team work here everyone is burnt out because of the case loads we have but that comes to another issue of staffing, there’s not enough staff coverage to help with departments needs we have lots of special staffing throughout the units we need more helping hands there has been lots of times people don’t get a lunch break, get a glass of water or even a break to use the bathroom! Often times during shift changes someone might even be late to do hand offs and your stuck after your shift has ended until someone can come relieve you. Seniority helps you as long as you’ve been here sadly this department doesn’t implement it like the rest of the hospital does, I truthfully don’t believe some really want the union but if you care about excising you seniority rights they won’t implement them anyways because they have two contracts and it is fairly new to them. I suggest anyone that wants to work in mental health you consider what can come from this job.
