Safe / practical nurse to patient ratio (SNF)

[hpierce729]

To all my friends and fellow nursing family out there! We need to raise awareness to to the often overlooked nurse to patient ratios in Skilled Nursing Facilities! If anything I would ask that you would take the time to read this. If you want any further info or have questions feel free to ask.

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF's), also referred to as Long Term Care or Nursing Homes, nurse to patient ratios typically range from 20-59 patients per nurse depending on the shift. The large misconception that only the elderly reside at these types of settings who need little more care than having their medications given to them on time simply is false.

The type of care at these facilities range from patients with gastronomy / tracheotomy tubes, have large or multiple wounds, post-op patients, psyche as well as brain injured or mentally handicapped patients vary from 18 years of age and up.

The average nurse/patient ratio at a Hosp. is 1:6. The current ratios at SNF's is simply too high to attain the highest practicable physical, mental or psychosocial well-being these patients deserve.

[RN_Jan]

I don't feel comfortable at all at my skilled facility which happens to be a 5-star. The patient's do not get the care they need. We don't have time for breaks (noc shift) and nurses usually have to stay an hour or more past shift with administration complaining that we have a "time management issues". Plus part- timers do not have a regular floor so we float to 3 different areas, being new and knowing that I will be in charge of 36 complete strangers with respiratory issues and mental issues along with being discharged so quickly from the hospital is scary. I am so scared of getting sued due to not being able to document everything that I did and having the facility throw me to the wolves. When it comes to reporting to the on-coming nurse I even have a hard time remembering who exactly the patient is (I equate it to having 36 babies show up at your house that you are suddenly in charge of overnight- they don't sleep and try remembering their names and what they look like by the morning)I spent 4 years on this degree and feel completely lost and unsupported. I put out hundreds of applications so I know that if I quit it will be really difficult to find a new job. It keeps me awake and my stress level is through the roof. I have actually considered just babysitting because the money after taxes would not be much of a difference.

Hi! I'm a new grad RN-BSN, got my licensed last month. A skilled nursing facility wants to hire me as the charge nurse. I'll be in charge of 30 patients. I'm nervous to take on that much responsibility because this will be my first job and I lack experience. I'm not sure if I should take the job or not?