How many patients are you expected to take report on?

I am a new grad, starting on a med/surg floor Saturday. We have 4 patients if on days and five if we work nights. How can anyone have 12? I must be missing something.

When I started on a 43 bed unit, we got abbreviated report on ll the occupied beds, the idea being you're able to help out easier and by aware of who might be in line to crump. We no longer do that, and the unit has been split in half. When I am in charge though, I tend to point out patients that may be either trouble or unstable, just as an FYI.

We too have a printed unit census, but our managers are very accepting of it thankfully. When we're full, we can have 7 nurses, plus 1-2 aides, can't imagine having 12 patients...blows the mind!

Tom

We receive report on all patients for floor (28 pts tops). we have been 4-5 nurses, usually 1-2cnas (3 on days), and charge nurses (day charges dont take patients, nites do). 3-4 patients norm for days; 4-5 pts norm for nights. I have had couple nights where had 6 patients luckily not the norm. 6 patients is my max..after that it is not safe for the acquity of patients we have.