How will I ever handle a 5 pt load?

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2006

Just like everyone else has said, you'll get there, it just takes time! I remember nights when I was running my butt off and my preceptor would help me out a bunch .... and I'd think to myself all the time how will I ever be able to do this on my own?! But it really does get better. You get better time management skills, you get a routine down that works for you .... and it takes time to get a routine down. You will be AMAZED at how much more managed you'll be in a few months. Keep it up, you're doing great!!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2006

Yeah I was getting kinda scared about the 10 patient comment too, but if it's a team I guess that wouldn't be so bad. But to hear "that's the real world of nursing" ..... ugh, it's only the "real world of nursing" because people actually accept assignments like that and put their license on the line by doing so. No way would I ever do so .... real world or not, I worked too damn hard and spent too much money to throw it all away. Stepping off my soapbox now, have a great day :)

sandiLa · Oct 27, 2006

I wouldn't take 10 pt.s unless it was an emergency, like a hurricane. At the hospital I was working at I had been there for 2 months as a new Nurse and was taking 7 on a Med/Surg. Telemetry floor and we only had 1 RN on the floor, she was the charge. She refused to take any pt.s so all the LPN's got 7. We didn't sit down all night. I believe she even got mad at me when I told her I was taking my 30 min. lunch and I was caught up with all my work. She was sitting reading the local paper when I told her this. I no longer work at this hospital, too many shady things that didn't feel right in my gut. I worked too hard for my liscense and some of the things they were doing made me very nervous. No thank you. Right now I'm focusing on my son and taking him everywhere he needs to be since he's involved in sports and I have the choice of doing it myself or working and paying someone else a lot of money to do it for me. I miss working and will go back as soon as I can.

Sandy

suzy253, RN · Oct 27, 2006

All great advice here. I'm a new grad, off orientation with anywhere from 5-7 patients, depending on the census. And yes, I have an LPN and a CNA as well, thank goodness!

I have my assessment sheets and then a blue piece of paper as my list. Can't do without my list...best advice I've gotten! For instance, when I get report and they're saying they're waiting on a certain drug to come up from pharmacy for room XXX, that will go on my blue sheet and checked off when it's completed.

laraheier · Feb 16, 2011

Would you be willing to share that list with a nursing student that graduates in May that's freaking out about having 5 patients this rotation?:)

cuperctar1 · Feb 17, 2011

Can I get a copy of the list as well? New grad starting next week... I'm excited.... :yeah:

MikeyBSN · Feb 18, 2011

The first year is the most difficult. I will take a good 6 months for you to really get things down and then another 6 to feel relatively competent. The good thing is that a 5:1 ratio in med-surg is actually quite good so you should have no problems, absent a bad day, with managing such a ratio. It just takes a while to get into the swing of things.

NurseVN · Feb 19, 2011

I will start my first shift training with a preceptor tomorrow. My floor is Cardiac-thoracic/ tele/ step down floor so max. Pt ratio is 3:1 unless pt Care is light and more than 1 RN call off, then 4:1. The manager and staff seem very open and encouraging so i hope I will be ok. In this residency, they made up a tentative plan and skill checklist for me and preceptor to follow. I also have a nurse educator to fall back to if i need more guidance or advises. I'm excited and nervous at the same time!