CNA Patient Ratios?

When I worked in LTC, my floor had 39 patients and three aides on days and one on second and thirds. We were considered ICF but had a lot of total care patients.
The SNF floor had 50 patients, four or five aides on days and three on second and third.
These people who posted 7 or 8 patients each for LTC -- I am astounded, I have NEVER seen such low ratios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a lot of places around here with bad ratios, but it's a matter of realizing you're only human, and not letting yourself get overextended when you can avoid it.

I worked LTC this summer, and we had 2-3 HCA's per unit (of approx. 30 residents) depending on the level of care required, and one nurse per unit (RN or RPN). That was for day and evening shifts. Night shift had 1 HCA/unit, and one RN in the building (96 bed facility). And there was one more HCA who floated between the units. It kept us busy, cuz pretty much all the residents were total care or close to it! I'm glad I didn't have more to do!!

~mae

Per CMS Regulations 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B-Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities: F-TAG 353, Reg 483.30 NURSING SERVICES-states-The facility must have sufficient nursing staff to provide nursing and related services to attain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident, as determined by resident assessments and individual plans of care. The -INTENT- To assure that sufficient qualified nursing staff are available on a daily basis to meet residents' needs for nursing care in a manner and in an environment which promotes each resident's physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, thus enhancing their quality of life.

(Not number specific)
**You must refer to your state regs specific guidelines for staff ratios.
***Nursing budget along with state regulation determines how your facility staffs. Your Administrator and DON are resources for that information.
****The acuity of each unit should be taken into account to determine the category mix (licensed to un-licensed staff)

If you need to make changes during the fiscal year, you can manipulate shift workload distribution. This must be done creatively because you have to give up one position to shift it to another.

Idealy for my unit, census is 24, 4 aides and nurse for both days and eves, with extra eve person helping out elswhere. Today I had four and was able to get so much extra work done I haven't had time for I even got a break. Residents were well cared for. the ambulatory alzhiemers units one has 20 residents, two aids and nurse, other unit has 14 residents 2 aids and nurse.
We try to have 1:7 or 8 even if the schedule is great, we can always count on someone to call in sick. or want to go home.