My supervisor does not allow any nurse to see over 7 patients a day. If you have more than that we have a PRN LPN or RN see the overflow. A busy day for me would be the Friday I just completed. I had 6 patients, 4 regular visit, 1 start, and 1 DC. If those nurses in your agency are seeing 50 patients a week then they are seeing about 10 a day. Unless they start their day at 7 and end at 7 I don't see how they are doing true case managment with those patients. Does it take an hour for each patient, well I hope not ,unless it is a start, but the time doing case management with those patients can easily take up the other 30min that you didn't spend in direct contact with the patient. I wonder what their re-hosptialization rates are. I would bet it is high. Of course every one has their own way of getting their job done...so just because one nurse takes 2 hours to do a start doesn't mean the next nurse will take that long.
Aug 4, '11 by shannongriffinrnIt's easy to get caught up in the "rat race"... trying to make productivity, earn the good money that can be made, and make everyone happy. The bottom line that nurses should be paying attention to is patient care and safety. If a nurse is seeing 40-50 patients per week, is he/she providing the care that the patient deserves (and payor sources require) in a safe and thoughtful manner? We all have to know our limits and practice within them.
Aug 6, '11 by AnnaRN78My supervisor does not allow any nurse to see over 7 patients a day. If you have more than that we have a PRN LPN or RN see the overflow. A busy day for me would be the Friday I just completed. I had 6 patients, 4 regular visit, 1 start, and 1 DC. If those nurses in your agency are seeing 50 patients a week then they are seeing about 10 a day. Unless they start their day at 7 and end at 7 I don't see how they are doing true case managment with those patients. Does it take an hour for each patient, well I hope not ,unless it is a start, but the time doing case management with those patients can easily take up the other 30min that you didn't spend in direct contact with the patient. I wonder what their re-hosptialization rates are. I would bet it is high. Of course every one has their own way of getting their job done...so just because one nurse takes 2 hours to do a start doesn't mean the next nurse will take that long.