[queenjean]

Staffing is the same on my floor, night or day.

We have either 3-4 pts (usually start with 3, increase to four with an admit) if we don't have an aide working with us--called TPC (total pt care).

If the RN is teamed with an aide, then those two have usually 6-8 pts (usually start with 6, then increase to 7 or 8 throughout shift with admits).

I can't imagine taking care of 6+ pts with no help from an aide! That is crazy!

My floor is a medical floor, 48 bed with average census of around 30, in a 150 bed community hospital.

[grantyRN06]

I totally agree, but unfortunately w/ administration they don't look at the type of pts they look at the census and then will tell you how many"staff members you are alotted" for a certain number.

[sarita279]

Wow! I can't believe the ratios out there. I have worked at two hospitals (tele and med-surg) and the ratio has always been 4/1 on days, and 4 to 5/1 on nights. At my current hospital, they DO take acuites into account and because of that we are getting another CNA at night.

[flwannaB]

Originally Posted by sarita279

Wow! I can't believe the ratios out there. I have worked at two hospitals (tele and med-surg) and the ratio has always been 4/1 on days, and 4 to 5/1 on nights. At my current hospital, they DO take acuites into account and because of that we are getting another CNA at night.

This is Florida. If you want to live in the sunshine, you have to pay the price.

[sarita279]

I don't think nurses should to pay a price in regards to ratios & staffing just to live somewhere sunny. anyways, there's plenty of sunshine in CO, just no beaches!

[geekgolightly]

Ortho/MedSurg floor. 1:4-5 with a tech taking no more than 8.

Only once have we stretched to 1:6, and that was due to the flu that recently swept through the hospital.

I am moving to another state (PA) and am concerned about the ratios I see listed in threads like this. It's unsafe for have more than 5 on a typical MedSurg floor. Tele should never have more than 4, and StepDown should be 3-4. With techs, of course.

In Houston, I worked a neurotrauma floor and our load was 1:7 with one tech taking up to 12 patients. It was extremely dangerous. It was my first job so I had no idea how bad it was until I was given the ability to do an excellent job caring for my patients at my current place of employment.

[azor]

5pts to 1 nurse but our max is 6pts.no secretaries at night.you have to arrange your charts if you have admissions.

[Ruffles 1]

We are now told by our DON that we are going to go to team nursing no matter what you want to call it. I imagine we will have to take up to 12 patients with 2 nurses and 1 tech. It is going to be unsafe again.
Communication is the key but when you are very busy with transferring patients or giving blood transfusions I am afraid we will be overwelmed.

[turtletyme]

I work 4-midnight on a med-surgical tele floor and usually have 7-10 patients.We may have 1 or 2 aides to work with 28 patients. Another RN and LPN to pass meds. A unit clerk until 7.Here lately, I have been doing med passes as well as patient care. I have been a nurse for a year and it is very overwhelming. It seems this is the norm in most hospitals. I love taking care of people but not when I feel I can't do it safely because lack of staff. A few of the other older nurses have said you just have to deal with it. Not sure how to take that.In school they talked about protecting your license and let the supervisor know when you need help. I have found out this often falls on deaf ears. If this is the norm I need to know how other people make it through without risking their license and juggling all the mess.

[Ruffles 1]

It is very hard to manage that many patients. That is not safe staffing.
The hospitals sure want to take peoples money but do not supply the appropriate staff. You may want to find another hospital work at if you can because chances are it will not change. Sorry!