Should I take this job? Please help!

[RiaRN]

Ok I will try to make this brief. I was offered a job in med surg in a city hospital in ny. I am a new grad RN. The unit is a stepdown and hospice unit. They told me that while their ideal nurse to patient ratio is 6 to 1 this is hardly ever the case. The nurse is responsible for total care of 12 patients with the help of only 1 nurses aid or 1 LPN. Orientation is 8 weeks. It sounds intimidating for me especially having no experience. Can anyone give me some advice? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! ~Ria

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

That might work for an aid AND an LPN but not either or. I think you should continue your search. That's just too big a load... especially for a newbie. You'll be burnt out in no time.

[doodlemom]

I agree - that sounds like a quick burn out job. I would expect that you would have 2 nurses and an aide.

[leslie :-D]

i would definitely stay away from that caseload.

a 1:12 ratio is absurd and dangerous-for you and your pts.

both deserve much better.

leslie

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

i would definitely stay away from that caseload.

a 1:12 ratio is absurd and dangerous-for you and your pts.

both deserve much better.

leslie

:yeahthat: I would NOT accept that job, especially as a new grad. Keep searching.

[jessica]

Sounds like you are getting some pretty sound advice here! Perhaps the next opportunity will work out better.

Jessica

[ShayRN]

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

i would definitely stay away from that caseload.

a 1:12 ratio is absurd and dangerous-for you and your pts.

both deserve much better.

leslie

[RiaRN]

Thanks so much for all of your help! My instincts are telling me that it's way too many but it is hard to differentiate between that and the anxiety of starting in this profession. I am having a hard time finding something....thats why I feel like I am almost stuck with taking it. I am going to try to go looking again this week. Wish me luck! Thanks again to all. ~Ria

[AtlantaRN, RN]

1:12 is more acceptable as a ratio of a home hospice nurse...not a stepdown unit. My stepdown unit was 1:4 with a nurses aid.

linda

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

I would move on!! quickly

[BeExcellent]

If I could be a new grad again , I would look for a position in a large teaching hospital that had an new grad internship program that rotated you through different area of the hospital. Man, that would be fun!

[taramayrn]

Seems like a heavy patient load and alot of responsibility for a new grad. I think the orientation sounds great, however that doesn't change the patient load.