Some questions on medsurg

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

I currently work the night shift on a med-surg unit and was wondering what the average years of experience was for other med-surg floors.I am the most experience for the night shift on my floor, I have just hit my year this month. The rest have either 9, 6 or 3 months of experience. The acuity of the floor is quite high, we have recieved ICU overflow patients. Makes no sense to me seeing as we do have step down units. It is also a large hospital with almost 1000 beds on the campus I work at. We are constantly having to transfer patients to either a step down or ICU. Most nights it is 5:1 or 6:1 but more often then not I am getting 7:1. And rarely 8:1. It is a 34 bed unit and we run with one tech, even though our numbers qualify for at least 3 techs. We have vitals every four hours and everyone is a diabetic. I find myself struggling with having to do everything for all my patients. The poor tech cannot do everything that is expected of them by morning on their own.I feel unsafe and I don't know if I should stick it out till July/August. Or leave now. Are most med-surg floors like this? I did have an interview, they were aware I wanted to start in August, and said to give them an email when I am back in the area to set up a shadowing, to see if the floor is a good fit (never heard of this before). I wouldn't leave until I know I have a job offer. I would be moving to a different state. Any help would be appreciated!

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