[sister--*]

Wanting to change from Acute Care med/surg to LTC/Rehab, I recently took a job in a LTC/Rehab facility as an RN, 12 hr. night shifts.

Ratio on my wing is 25-30 pts. from alert and oriented to alzheimers/dementia. Fairly safe and independent residents to total care. I've found that Med-passes and treatments are all mine on this unit for the full 12 hrs. I'm there. Have been promised a Medication Aide but rarely have one.

Staffing on my wing (25-30 residents) consists of Myself, one and rarely two aides to assist people to bed from 6 p.m. until either 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. One aide after that until 6 a.m.

In addition, Trachs, G-tubes, IVs are my total responsibility facility wide....about 100 residents. Also, this facility is computerized and I've been promised, but, have had no training on that. Very frustrating and time-consuming not knowing what I'm doing with that computer.

I was given three days of orientation and requested and received two additional days. I asked for more, but, didn't receive it.

Is this usual staffing for LTC/ Rehab facilities? I'm feeling overwhelmed and that this situation is quite unsafe.

Please reply.

[Suesquatch]

Everywhere I've been on evenings had two nurses and three to four aides. Nights, one nurse and two aides.

It's very unsafe, and impossible, at that level, to deliver decent care.

[the princess]

i'd say you had a better life when you were at the Acute Care Med-Surg, at least you only have 6 pt.s, 7 at the most...plus you have aides at the acute care...though it's computerized, you have time to tinker the computer coz you don't have that so many patients...and it's safer...protect your license....

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by sister--*

Ratio on my wing is 25-30 pts. from alert and oriented to alzheimers/dementia. Fairly safe and independent residents to total care. I've found that Med-passes and treatments are all mine on this unit for the full 12 hrs. I'm there.

You say you work night shift? If so, you've got it better than most night shift LTC nurses. I know of night LTC nurses who are legally responsible for 60 to 85 patients during those hours, all by themselves. These nurses are often the only licensed nurse in the entire building.

[marjoriemac]

The least number I have worked on night duty is 1 nurse, 1 carer for 15 30 residents and it was tough!

[nightmare]

At the moment we have 1RN and two carers for 30.We should have 3 carers,that's the usual staffing level for up to 35 residents at night.

[Hospice Nurse LPN]

I'd love to have only 30 pts at night! I work 7p to 7a and we have 2 LPN's and 5 to 6 CNA's with a census of 108!

[sister--*]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

You say you work night shift? If so, you've got it better than most night shift LTC nurses. I know of night LTC nurses who are legally responsible for 60 to 85 patients during those hours, all by themselves. These nurses are often the only licensed nurse in the entire building.

Hmmmm, legally responsible for 97 residents here. 1 RN, 1 LPN, 3 aides at night provided all show-up. Sat. is was me and two aides.

Too many issues. Run, Sister, run!

[busy-bee]

Evening shift usually 2 nurses 2 CNA's- 3 CNA's if you are lucky...not to mention you have an addition 20 residents on the Altz unit with only a CNA, which equal 60 residents total..... on nights one nurse responsible for 60 residents....one cna on the altz unit.....one cna if you're lucky two cna's....responsible for 40. Complete nightmare....one emergency...you are SUNK!

[sister--*]

Worked with a picc line and discovered there is no policy and procedure book for the facility. This frightens me.

I was wondering why there was no I.V. sight/line care listed on the mar. Now I know.