[laine's rn]

I work nights on a 30 bed ortho/med/surg unit. Some nights are some aren't so bad. We have 2 RN's: 6 pts to 1 RN, no aide, on one team of 12 pts. Then the rest of the 18 pts are split at 11p to 2 RN's: 9 pts each RN & the PCA has all 18. At night we get dumps from the ED confused, c-diff, combative, pts with our fresh post-ops, next door. The ortho dr's thinks someday's its a nursing home the way it smells. Not only do we run with the ortho pts but the confused person next door keeps them up all night by her bed alarm and in turn they complain to us. Thats troubling. Its a no win situtaion on my floor some nights, but the time flies so quick some nights 12 hrs is nothing.

[NurseWi_JennJenn]

I just started on an ortho-vascular floor 2 weeks ago... the demands for a nurse is ! I'm on days right now but will be working 7pm-7am. I was TOLD that the usual pt load on nights is 7-8 patients so I guess we'll see.

[Sueilp]

Originally Posted by NurseWi_JennJenn

I just started on an ortho-vascular floor 2 weeks ago... the demands for a nurse is ! I'm on days right now but will be working 7pm-7am. I was TOLD that the usual pt load on nights is 7-8 patients so I guess we'll see.

I was "told" that the max we would have on nights would be 6-8. I was a bit suspicious at first but to be fair after being there for about 6 weeks now the max I have had is 8 and that has literally been twice. The normal is 6, but I have been known just to have 4 when it is quiet. At the moment they are destaffing a lot as we are in our quiet season.

I personally think the safe number is 6 especially if you have a lot of post-ops. our surgery days are mon, wed and fri so those nights are particularly busy. It is also better if you keep the same assignment which to be fair they do try and stick to as best they can which means it is a little easier as you know the patients.

[P_RN]

Sometimes 5 is too many and 10 is easy as pie. It all depends. My suggestion would be to double team with another nurse. That way you have her help and she has yours.

NEVER try moving someone alone. My back finally gave out after 32 years, and all I did was push a bed (WITH help.)

[Sueilp]

Originally Posted by P_RN

NEVER try moving someone alone. My back finally gave out after 32 years, and all I did was push a bed (WITH help.)

I always make sure I raise the bed when turning anyone or doing dressings as I find bending over kills my back more than the actual lifting or turning! You just have to remember to lower the bed again LOL

[bahraini male nurse]

am orth nurse during morning duty i will assigned for 4 pts
in evening and night duty only 8 pts
but all that with team work

[Sueilp]

I arrived on duty the other night at 7pm and was assigned 4 patients, one of them was a fresh post op. Before 10pm I was further assigned another 2 fresh post op patients. In total on the unit we had 11 patients with 2 RN's and one tech. It was ridiculous. I ran between the 3 fresh postops trying to help the tech who had 5 fresh post ops in total, trying to take off the Doctor's orders and making sure the patients were doing ok.

Our census has been low so they have been destaffing us a lot lately...but that was awful. The next night was slightly better in that we had 3 RN's and one tech for 14 patients but at least we didnt have any fresh post ops.

Some days are better than others

[lyallch]

Why do nurses keep doing what we do??? Would any other profession have put up with this kind of madness??? Are we mad????

[RN and Mommy]

I work on an Ortho/Neuro unit and we have on days anywhere from 5-7 patients along with a CNA who only has those patients as well. With patients coming and going, it is not unusual to have run through 10 patients a day.

[P_RN]

I've run through as many as 20 in a shift. But that was with an LPN and a tech on my team.

One evening an LPN and I (no tech that nite) admitted 13 patients. The next shift then complained that we didn't admit the one that arrived 5 minutes into their shift.