Cailfornia patient Ratio

[nursebear168]

I have a questions about Cailfornia patient's ratio law on the telemetry-med surg unit. Hopefully somebody would answer me. I just transferred from stepdown unit to tele med surg. I have 5 patients on my own, covering 3 LVN patients and 1 or 2 primary care patients, Team nursing is NOT implement in my new unit and the LVN did absolutely NOTHING for my own 5 patients but if something happen to those 3 LVN patients, I have to call the MD for them, if there are admission, I need to get a report for them. Also I need to carry their orders and check their orders for them. I don't mind to give their IV med. I feel so overwhleming and frustrated at work. In my opinion, It seems out of the ratio. What you guys think about it? And what can I do about it aside from compliant to my manager? because he claimed he cannot change anything.:angryfire :angryfire

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Sounds like the ratio law is not being followed however if noone says anything then it will stay that way. The CNA website has the exact law, sorry I don't remember the exact web address.

The hospitals are not great at following rules unless DHS or JHACO are IN the actual building(then all of a sudden all the rules are followed)

[TazziRN, RN]

Do a search for California Nurses Association for the website.

I believe the ratio for stable tele pts is 4:1 but I'm not positive. It's followed pretty closely in the central coast section, but the union is pretty strong in this area.