Ok so what?? Here is the solution not just an article about the problems......hire mental health administrators who help guide a business to successful mental health outcomes and mentor all staff on how to recognize problems before they erupt and then follow up with mental healthcare. We all realize that there's a problem. Writing about it is not a solution. Doing something about it, now there's a real answer !!!!!!

It would seem that nursegirl has not worked on a psychiatric unit. I have worked in both state facilities and private hospital in NY and FL. The answer is not administrators. There is a need for adequate staffing levels that are based on acuity. Much like a critical care unit - there can be a census of 5 with the sickest patients you can imagine or 30 patients that can be easily managed by a nurse/tech. Training is very important to prevent injury to yourself, co-workers and the patient. I have worked with 6ft hefty male staff who have been injured because they did not follow technique while a 5ft female walked away- crisis solved.
Most adminstrators only come to the units if there is a problem not to prevent or to understand risk. Picture yourself in a smal mental health hospital with 60 patients-- majority of them brought in law enforcement due to dangerous behaviors or psychotic from not taking meds. It is the evening shift - don't forget you have 20 on the geri unit who are medically ill and sundowning. Then check on your staff -- 2 nurses, 2 mental health techs who are trained and 3 female staff over 60 years old not trained. The supervisor is busy admitting more patients and there is not an adminstrator on site. The doctors don't know the patients and do not answer pages for an hour or more... Again is not administrators that have your back-- it is the well trained staff that will be every one safe on this very typical evening. It should be written about, talked about and screamed about.

I agree with christneg about YOUR staff being your backup and working together in a crisis. I have working psych and ED where both have had very volatile patients and family. If I didnt have well trained, aware staff, things would have had bad outcomes in both areas. I now work in corrections. Again, the staff makes the difference not mental health administrators. the majority dont have the hands on, only do policies. I do feel more needs done to support each other after the crisis (which can be an everyday occurance). I've only worked in one institution that truly supported this, the rest criticize. Staff MUST work and stick together.They've" got your back". jnecrafts

My personal experience is that the whole concept of "mental-health" setting is convoluted.
I work as a psychiatric nurse in various hospitals (on per-diem basis).
My sad observation has been that instead of taking the delinquents, bar-brawlers, alcohol intoxicated, illegal substance abusers and domestic violence perpetrators to jail, Law Enforcement Officers bring them to the E.Rs. Invariably, Florida State's Maxine Baker Act is initiated and these "patients" are involuntarily committed to psychiatric ward. Most of them are antisocial, and sociopaths. However, under the garb of 'mental-illness", they are offered safe haven, where the long-arms of the law fall short.
As long as we medicalize criminal behavior, we must anticipate to be victims of violence directed toward staff-members.
With current cut-backs in staffing-ratio, staff-members in most hospitals are vulnerable targets and easy preys.
The law is on the side of the criminals and they know it too well.