What's your patient load?

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  1. This is a discussion on What's your patient load? in Emergency Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... I'm still orienting but I take on about 5-6 patients. Normally we will have 6-7 sometimes 8. I work...

    by Dec 7, '12
    I'm still orienting but I take on about 5-6 patients. Normally we will have 6-7 sometimes 8. I work in NYC. What are the ratios in other states or hospitals? 7 patients is crazy! Granted, not all are super sick, but still, time management is one of the top skills needed, perhaps the hardest for a new nurse. Thoughts?
    Last edit by Joe V on Dec 12, '12 : Reason: spacing
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    by germsjackson Dec 7, '12 3:23 pm
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  3. 29 Comments so far...

  4. Guide
    Dec 7, '12 by
    That is a heavy load. 3-5 patients is typical at my Level I trauma center ... even urgent care assignments are generally no more than 5 unless it's a very bad day.
  5. Dec 7, '12 by
    The level 2 I am transferring to is 4:1, my current ED is 4:1-6:1, depending on flow and staffing.
  6. Dec 7, '12 by
    Level 1 in Texas at my facility 4:1 with no trauma room. 3:1, if you are assigned to trauma that day.
  7. Dec 7, '12 by
    Dang. sounds nice
  8. Dec 7, '12 by
    Level I Trauma primary care nursing
    Med surg 5 max
    ICU 2 max
    Oncology 4 max
    Multiple Myeloma 3 max
    Progressive Care 3-4
  9. Dec 8, '12 by
    Inner-city pediatric Level 1 ER: 4:1 or 3:1 with good staffing in ESI 2/3 areas. 7:1 urgent care. 2:1 critical/ trauma bay. If a family brings siblings in to be seen they count as 1 patient unless they are very sick or there are a TON of them.

    Regional Level 1 pediatric ER: 4:1 regardless of acuity.

    Community all ages non trauma center ER: 5-6:1 depending on time of day.
  10. Dec 8, '12 by
    For every ABC-unstable patient we go 1:1, means the other nurses go up at the same time taking over your load.
    Medsurg anywhere from 3:1 to 6:1 depending on available staff.
    Peds generally 3:1.
    Small surgical cases: task oriented nursing, everyone with available time pitches in, assessment/primary diagnostics ordered by the triage nurse or dedicated ER physician.

    In general our patient load is very variable throughout our shift since we are involved in prehospital care as well. So if all other nurses have to go out on prehospital assignments and/or in-hospital codes, the ER falls back on 1 - 2 nurses for everything and everyone. All remaining patients fall under the responsibility of the remaining nurse, including ABC-unstable ones that get dropped off in the mean time. Luckily we have pretty amazing ER docs that will do many of our tasks themselves if we are too busy.
  11. Dec 9, '12 by
    Trauma or trying to actively die 3:1
    High acuity but not dead yet 4:1
    Maybe should be here 5:1
    Really shouldnt be here 6:1

    Granted that is with perfect staffing and not having to use any of our hall beds for bambulances.
    camiluvsNURSING, Esme12, joanna73, and 1 other like this.
  12. Dec 9, '12 by
    Holy s*** that's a lot of patients, even if they're less acute. I only have three at a time at the most.