Work load

1. I recently did my first shift at this nursing home through an agency. I was shocked when one nurse said she was alone with 50 patients, as a new grad Im confused. Is that normal in LTC????

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2. 6 Comments

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3. 
   May 23, '13

   Where I am from it is but not everywhere. Some LTC in my area are only 30-40.

   Last edit by loriangel14 on May 23, '13
4. 
   May 23, '13

   50 is high unless it's a assisted living. That's my regular load in the AL I PRN at. In LTC/skilled (they are intermixed at times if there is overflow) I usually carry around 30 on a good day. That includes all TX's, all meds of all routes, g tubes, admissions/discharges, skin checks, blood sugars, etc. My unit manager does the admission assessments and that's it. I am only PRN for a reason, work in a clinic now, but I tell ya you learn to prioritize and multi task like a nobody's business. Seriously as hard as it is it has given me one of my best skills.
5. 
   May 23, '13

   Depends on the shift. Many units have a max of 60 pts. They staff with 1 nurse on 11-7; 3-11 may have 2 nurses but also 1 - 8 hour nurse and a parttime nurse until 8 pm can be the staffing for 3-11.
6. 
   May 24, '13

   In the area where I live, 50 residents is normal in LTC/nursing homes on the night shift. 50 residents is, in my opinion, too much to handle on the day shift or evening shift.
7. 
   May 24, '13

   Quote from jahmani

   I recently did my first shift at this nursing home through an agency. I was shocked when one nurse said she was alone with 50 patients, as a new grad Im confused. Is that normal in LTC????

   Im working with 75 residents by myself with 4 caregivers in an assisted living place but i dont really give meds to all of these people just maybe 30 of them. It is easy unless i have change of condition or falls specially in the middle of med pass otherwise its not bad.
8. 
   May 26, '13

   Where I work the staffing ratio is:
   
   7-3: 1RN, 1LPN, 4CNAs for 49 residents
   
   3-11: 1RN, 1LPN, 3CNAs for 49 residents
   
   11-7: 1LPN and 2 CNAs for 49 residents
   
   Plus, the 7-3 shift always has additional nurses in the form of the MDS nurse and the unit manager

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