Nurses General Nursing
Published Oct 20, 2013
I wanted to get a poll on nurse patient ratio. I know its different in every unit. So if you can indicate what unit you work in, that would be great! Thank you.
I work in a neuro tele unit and we get 5 patients.
PacoUSA, BSN, RN
3,445 Posts
Med/tele: when staffing is optimal, we are 4:1, but 5:1 is more the norm. We had 6:1 last summer consistently while new grads were still on orientation, that was a nightmare. Our unit/hospital does not have different ratios for days/nights.
workingmama77, BSN
66 Posts
Geriatric Acute Care with Hospice - up to 6 patients(depending on acuity & census)
Racer15, BSN, RN
707 Posts
ED, it ranges anywhere from 3-5 to 1 depending on how swamped we are.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
5,047 Posts
SICU which includes trauma and neuro. 2:1 usually; 1:1 if very unstable (massively transfusing, CRRT, ECMO etc.) or is progressing toward or declared brain death and is donating.
Despareux
938 Posts
Med-surg/Tele/Cardiac/Ortho floor. Days and NOC are both 1:5.
NICUmiiki, DNP, NP
1,775 Posts
The med/tele unit I'm doing clinicals on is 1:5. Most of the time that's the case, but today the nurses all had 6 and my nurse had 7.
In the ER where I work, the nurses have 3 or 4 beds.
calivianya, BSN, RN
2,418 Posts
ICU 1:1 for vented pts, 2:1 for non-vented (depends on acuity). When I worked in dialysis it was 4:1 for chronics and 3:1 for acutes.
Wow, it would be awesome to have 1:1 just because a patient is on the vent. I would love to work with you. :) 1:2 here, pretty much no matter what. They try not to give a new admit who is crashing to someone who already has a crashing patient, but the acuity here is pretty low anyway so that's usually not a problem. MICU, nights.
Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,816 Posts
7 bed ED. Max number of nurses at peak census is 3, 1 nurse from 2400-0700. We don't divide up assignments by beds or numbers, it just flows however it flows.
naptimeRN
188 Posts
Med surg/tele units. Days usually 5 to 6:1. Evenings usually 7:1 up to 9:1. Nights 8 to 11:1 . Let's just say the turn over rate for evening and night nurses is obviously high.
bamaguy1989
47 Posts
I would die if 7 to 11 patient was the norm. I get stressed when I have 6 on my med/surg floor.
sistrmoon, BSN, RN
841 Posts
4-6 patients on nights on a med-surg Onc floor.
Brekka, ADN, RN
85 Posts
I work at a rehab hospital where I have between 20-26 patients.