one nurse for 24 patients

[prometheus0219]

I'm a new nurse in an outpatient dialysis center, less than a year. We are short on regular nurses in the unit and sometimes I'm the only nurse opening the unit with 3-4 PCTs for 24 patients. The other nurse comes in 2-3 hours later or the other nurse calls out. I'm not comfortable with that and I have told my nurse manager many times already. Is it alright to wait for the other nurse before putting patients on the machine?

[**nurse**]

I grumble sometimes, but am comfortable, with 16 or 17 and 4 techs. I prefer 2 nurses and 4 techs for the same load. You have too much.

[Migrant_Renal_RN]

Yeah, we would all prefer better staffing. Unfortunately that is not the reality in most situations. We all do the best we can to keep our patients safe and give them the best care possible every day. We unfortunatly have numbers to make, but the truth is that if you take care of your patients one at a time, as thought they are the only one, each and everyday, the numbers will take care of themselves. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend:)