Benchmarking for appropriate staffing

[ComicRN]

I am trying to get the administrator of my facility to agree to hiring more staff. I've been asked to "benchmark" to see how other facilities staff. I work in a nursing home. The floor that I manage is a combination rehab/LTC floor. We have 20 rehab patients and 1 LTC residents. On days we have: me, 2 LPN's for the whole shift and 1 LPN from 7 am to 1 pm. We have 5 CNA's (and one of them only works until 1 pm). On evenings we have 1 LPN from 3-11 and 1 LPN from 3-8 or 4 to 9. We have 4 CNA's. On nights we have 1 LPN and 1 to 2 CNA's. I contend that we are understaffed. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks for your help!

[newangelofmercy]

I work in LTC my unit has 48 to 50 residents 2 with feed tubes 2 with caths Most are 2 assists. 7-11 has 2 LPN's and 3-4 STNA's 3-11 has 2 LPN's and 3 STNA's I am charge nurse LPN 11-7 and I have 2 STNA's It is a horrible mad house most of the time and the residents do not get the care that they deserve no matter how hard we try. I have only been a nurse 2 yrs and am already burned out. I love the res. but hate that paper work and the almighty dollar is more important than they are. Will probably not stay much longer.

[km rn]

Our usual staffing is as follows:

4 48 bed units = 192 residents

48 bed unit = 2 nurses, 5 or 6 CNAs, Unit Manager, Ward Clerk (5hours) on day shift.

48 bed unit = 2 nurses, 5 or 6 CNAs, Transport Aide (wheels residents to appts/dinner) on PM shift.

48 bed unit = 1 nurse and 2 CNAs on night shift.

We do not have a huge rehab population - usually only 2 or 3 residents covered under Medicare Part A and 1 or 2 for Medicare Part B.

HCFA is starting up a staffing comparision page.