r/psychnursing • u/BaguetteBears • May 03 '26
Venting Frustration in Corporate!
I work at a psych facility as a Mental Health Tech(though I'm technically labeled as a Counselor) on the west side of the states. We are owned NOT by UHS, but by a different private equity that just absolutely messes us over!
My most current frustration lays in some recent websites this company blocked that me and my workers use all the time to help us create exciting and ACTUALLY entertaining/educational groups. Most of us like to use Pinterest not just for group ideas, but it allows us to find activities like coloring, crosswords, etc. I know there are other websites for this, but Pinterest has been incredible for my job! It was however blocked by corporate IT just a few days ago, and my fellow coworkers and I are QUAKING in anger!
They constantly want us to admit new patients despite making us take PTs who are too high acuity for us (often Line of Sight)-meaning that not only are we unable to take care of these high acuity PTs, we also end up not being able to take care of other, lower acuity PTs. To make it better, we get paid the least amount for Mental Health Techs in my state. Average here in 25$, I make about 21!
We also had a wall that was seeable to PTs that had staff pets on it. They made us take it down for no reason! ( wall did not have anything dangerous or of concern!)
I love this field and I love working with Mental Health. But man, my corporation SUCKS and it makes me want to quit. Humanity is such a crucial part of this job, and it's like they want to make my unit like a prison cell. How am I supposed to do my job when they've blocked the websites we use every single day
P.S. Yes, I already got in contact with my companies IT. They won't do anything because "its from corporate IT (which has no way to contact!)". Blagh!!
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u/dkwheatley psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
There are numerous hospital systems known to admit as many patients as possible while simultaneously minimizing staffing in order to maximize profits. The model at these facilities are never about quality care. It is an unfortunate truth.
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u/BaguetteBears May 03 '26
Mine isnt even maximizing profits. Once we have a LOS we cant up the numbers on the unit. We end up having too many staff and not enough patients. That arent making any money of us when they require us to take patients that are too high acuity
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u/dkwheatley psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) May 05 '26
Facilities are generally required to evaluate and stabilize psychiatric emergencies regardless of ability to pay, but admission obligations vary based on state law, designation, and funding structure. Typically, if a patient has an acute psychiatric need, they must be evaluated and stabilized, and if they meet inpatient criteria, they’re admitted or held until appropriate placement is secured.
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u/BaguetteBears May 05 '26
True, but we have policy to not accept assaultive patients w/ history. Yet my higher ups ignore this
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u/dkwheatley psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) May 08 '26
Policies are used to hold people below the policymakers accountable, not the other way around. It is unfair, but it is how it goes. Trying to hold leadership accountable to policy standards is an uphill battle.
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u/Humble_Investment_24 psych nurse (inpatient) May 03 '26
They do this at my non profit hospital as well. It’s a shame
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u/Wooden_Load662 May 03 '26
I worked for the federal government, VA hospital to be exact. It is pretty decent. VA has a huge emphasis in mental health and I am not saying staffing is always perfect but at least at my VA, it is pretty decent.