[MedicalLPN]

I'm on a medical telemetry unit. We do primary care typically on days the nurses have 4-5 pts a piece with 2 aides, ward clerk, and a charge nurse that doesn't take patients. On night shift it's 5-6 pts with 1-2 aides and the charge nurse takes a full load. The acuity is so high on our floor and we get so many types of pts in, total cares, chemo pts, end of life care, cardiac, dialysis pts, etc.

I think on Med/surg and tele floors the ratio should be set 1:4 on all shifts, when you have 6 pts, 3 of which are unstable and one that's a comfort care that's getting ready to pass away, it's sometimes impossible to catch up.

[BillieRN]

Our floor has 36 beds. 1st shift has 8 nurses, 4 CNAs, a charge nurse with no patients and a secretary. 2nd shift has 8 nurses, 2-3 CNAs depending on number of patients on the unit, a charge nurse with no patients unless short staffed, and a secretary. 3rd shift is 6 nurses with 2 CNAs, charge nurse is included in one of the 6. Of course this is in an ideal world when all staff actually are there but that is the guidelines we use.

[grantyRN06]

My unit holds 50 beds, 24 in the north side and 26 in the south. Staffing has been better lately where we have 5 RNs on each side with either 3 PCAs or 2 PCAs and a LPN who can assist with the med pass. When it's like this you may have 5-6 pts Now I won't lie, there have been days when we are SHORT..coming in at 7a w/ 8pts. And like I have always said it's not the number is the acuity. I have had 5pts and was running all day long and have had 8 where it's not too bad. It all depends on what is going on.

[nursecher]

The Med/Surg floor that I will be interviewing on has an average of 8 patients. You also have an LPN and an aide. But, I have heard that sometimes they have ended up having 12 which would scare the heck out of me!! Hopefully as a new grad that won't happen for a long time.

[tazzie1026]

WOW I work 2nd shift and we have up to 6 pt at most but usually anywhere between 3-5 depending on the census. sometimes we have a sec. but we also employ 1 LPN and RN are in charge of covering her Pt taki ng orders calling doc's pushing IV meds. We are trying out the unassigned charge vs- an extra aid (some nights we only have one aid to 30pt, pretty tough for her) My personal choice would be an extra aid

[suzy253]

I work evenings (3-11) on med surg/tele floor. Usually have 7-8 patients.

[Ruffles 1]

I think having more than 5 patients on any shift is too much. You have to consider the acuity of the patients, which unfortunately that does not matter to the administration.Why have a charge nurse if she doesn't take patients or help other nurses?

[Ruffles 1]

I am afraid it will happen. The nursing shortage is happening very quickly.

[flwannaB]

Originally Posted by sistasoul

Hello all,

I am currently an aide on a telemetry unit and when I graduate in May I am hoping to work on the med surge unit in my hospital. I did a clinical rotation there and one of the nurses there told me she usually gets 5 patients. I would like to hear from other RN's how many patients they usually take care of. Five seems like a low number from posts I have been reading.
Thanks to all who respond

I work on a busy med/surg floor as an LPN. We average 6 to 7 pts. If I have high accuity, I will sometimes refuse my 7th. 6 is too much most times. We have an average of 2 new post ops coming in for each nurse every day except weekends. PCA pumps, q15 vitals, set ups incentive spirometers, walking TMJ's. It all can be very daunting and exhausting.

[grantyRN06]

On my unit at times the charge nurse has a "full assignmen" (6-8) people depending on staffing, and sometimes she may even be precepting someone. Now that is CRAZY!! I have to say thought things have been getting a little bit better lately.