Med Surg Nurses: How many patients do you care for? - Page 3

We average 5 on days, 6-7 at night, but I don't work nights. And yes, we average 3-4 d/c's out of our 5 pts and get another RIGHT back in...99% of the time, no admissions/discharges at night, we fill them right back up on day shift.

I like the phrase "allowed to care for" as opposed to "forced to care for".

I am going to be starting nights, they have 5-6 patients/nurse and no PCT...
I am a wee bit nervous, No PCT on nights is that common and doable?

Basically, yes, though if you have CNAs, a lift team, a unit clerk, phlebotomists, and ample supplies then I think 6 is manageable.

If you're flying solo and you have patients who are incontinent or ALOC or fall risks or skin breakdown or aspiration risks (sounds like about 95% of our patients, huh?), or you have to chase stuff down, patients are not going to receive high-quality care... you're just stretched too thin to accommodate disruptions. Even 5 patients can be a challenge in such circumstances.

I'm in CA and our max ratio is 4:1 in the ED unless they're ICU acuity in which case we're at 2:1 or 1:1 depending on the situation.

Well, it really depends... all it takes is one serious 'sundowner' to eat up buckets of your time... and lots of patients choose the 0300-0400 time to crump...

You'll come to rely on your fellow nurses... you'll only survive working as a team.

I work in NZ and our ratio in ED is 1:4 or 1:1 if they are in resus or really sick. In the US I worked various ED's and it was normally 1:4 or occassionally 1:5. I cannot imagine working a floor and having 4-7 pts!

Well one night I had 18 patients on a med/surg floor. NYC. Usual was 8 and above.

I work in med surge/ acute care and I have 17 patients days with 2 cna. And same for 3-11. We have wound care galore, Iv, wound vac, admissions and discharges. Most have a drain of some sort etc. they all go to therapy daily. But I manage. This is in New Jersey

at my high accuity hospital even 4 is too much. 3 is tolerable.....

6 patients, 7 only when we're short and Float pool has nobody. 6 is difficult enough especially when they all think they are your only patient, I'm giving med-surg another year and half and I'm out!