[LOU12345]

Originally Posted by Jaaaman

Hello. I am a new member to this board. I've been working in a rehab hospital for the last 4 months. I've become a little discouraged with the nurse to patient ratio (some nights it has been 15:1). I don't feel like adequate assessments and nursing care can be done with nurse to patient ratio's like this. I'm thinking about going back to the general hospital I worked at before this. I'm just wondering if this is the norm for rehab nursing? p.s. I am a fairly new LVN (graduated last December) Its possible I'm still trying to find my niche.

Im a rehab nurse in Australia, ratio day 5:1 eve 8:1 and night 15:1..we are classed as sub acute, roatios 4:1 in acute

[caren2005]

Originally Posted by redshiloh

What type of rehab medicine? I work spinal cord injury and our ratios on days and eves are 3-4 to one and on nights 6-7 to one. Rehab medicine is a line of work that's tough on the body.

Hi My name is Caren. i had a question. You stated that you worked in spinal cord injury rehab nursing... i have a question just for you. i have a spinal cord injury. Brown Sequard syndrome 11/8/04. i just began nursing school last week in NJ. i am still at kessler institute for rehab as an outpatient. I really want to be a nurse but i am unsure of the specialty i want to work in b/c my physiatrist said i have to find a type of nursing that will not be too high impact. I would love to work in rehab nursing specifically SCI patients. My nurses in the hospital were great and i would love to be that supportive and have that impact on another person with SCI. I would also love to show them that you can perservere, and make something of yourself in spite of having a spinal cord injury. Do you really think that this is a realistic expectation to have at this point? I would really appreciate your advice.Given your experience and perspective, what types of nursing do you think would be worth considering?

[NANNERS]

New To Site With Question. If Your Census Is Down How Does Your Staff Get Adjusted? Do You Have A Formula That Maintains The Appropriate Amout Of Staff Needed? I Work In A Rehab Facility That I Think Depends On A System That I Believe Is Failing. Our Patients Are Not That Critical And The Acuity System That They Use Makes It Almost Like Icu And Almost A One On One Staff Situation That Cannot Last. Any Advice Suggestions?

[TracyB,RN]

Caren... I admire your determination. I have to check out your diagnosis, as I am not familiar with it or your limitations.
I can tell you that I had back surgery (discectomy L4-5) 10 months ago today, & STILL am unable to work rehab, (or any other job) despite my efforts to do so. I am currently on a 10# lift restriction, with other restrictions for bending, stooping, stretching, etc.... At this rate, I am probably looking at a disc replacement or fusion in the next 2 yrs. I don't see myself ever being able to do rehab, let alone basic nursing care & I am not even 35 yet. I a, searching for a less physically intense nursing job & not having the greatest luck. Nobody wants a nurse who can barely lift a gallon of milk...
So, rehab is totally cool.... But very physical at times.
Be careful & best of luck to you.

[unknown99]

Wow!! Our ratio is 6 rehab patients to one team of an RN and a rehab aide.
I cannot imagine more!!

[Gennaver]

Originally Posted by TracyB,RN

Caren... I admire your determination. I have to check out your diagnosis, as I am not familiar with it or your limitations.
I can tell you that I had back surgery (discectomy L4-5) 10 months ago today, & STILL am unable to work rehab, (or any other job) despite my efforts to do so. I am currently on a 10# lift restriction, with other restrictions for bending, stooping, stretching, etc.... At this rate, I am probably looking at a disc replacement or fusion in the next 2 yrs. I don't see myself ever being able to do rehab, let alone basic nursing care & I am not even 35 yet. I a, searching for a less physically intense nursing job & not having the greatest luck. Nobody wants a nurse who can barely lift a gallon of milk...
So, rehab is totally cool.... But very physical at times.
Be careful & best of luck to you.

Hi TracyB RN,

I am a student nurse who worked almost three years in Physical rehab. Yes, it is very physically demanding, very much so. We did get our patients up, (even the spinals) every day. Most patients we got up several times a day and gave really good care, (I am proud of the care my coworkers and I gave, they really cared). However, this was so very physically taxing.

Many of my coworkers had mentioned remembering a time before they hurt their backs!

My grandmother had her spine fused due to degenerative disk disease and herniating disks and my mother had ortho surgery when hers went bad and then had neuro-surgery for the second and third times. I also know another person in my personal life who had a fusion and two other people with herniating disks that did not have the fusion.

Based upon my conversations with those people and from my observations of them, I am ready to make the choice of fusion if my day ever comes. Personally, I think I would rather loose a little range of motion right off the bat than to risk years of herniations. Of course this is not very well thought out as, (knock on wood) my back is still trying to hold its own.

I want to wish you well and suggest you look into office nursing. When I worked at a large women's health facility we did get nurses to come to work for us from two of our companies hospitals when they were on physical restrictions for either bad backs or injuries or what not. Maybe this is an option for you. It is not bedside nursing but, it IS nursing.

Good luck,
Gennaver

[namorce]

I am an RN that is new to rehab nursing. I worked previously on a tele floor in a very good hospital in the area. I decided to change venues because I found that I was not able to educate and bond with my pts as much as I would like. At the rehab facility that I am employed at , the ratios can be harsh. I work the evening shift ( 3 - 11:30) and have had as many as eight pts and one cna to help. Even though I run my hinny off most evenings, and the acuity of the pts coming to rehab is increasing , I have found that I make a huge difference in my pts lives.
I have bonded with many fo my pts and their familes and alot of times , when these pts return for outpt services after d/c, they will come up to the floor to see us and say hello. It is exciting to see these pts progress and to share in thier personal accomplishments is heart warming.
This type of nursing career may be tough at first, and it can be harsh on the body, but for the most part , it is a very rewarding nursing field.
Good luck in what ever you do,
namorce

[natkat2816]

That is also why I LOVE rehab nursing - because of the relationships you have with your patients and their families!! It is rewarding. (But then I miss them when they discharge).