What is the maximum number of patients per nurse?

[Info(RN)matics]

Worst Case Scenario:

1. What is the maximum number of patients per nurse on your Medical/Surgical floor?
   
2. Which shift?
   
3. Which state?
   
4. How often do you find yourself in such a situation?
   

Background:

When our nurses explained to our DON that it was not only unrealistic, but also unsafe for one nurse to take care of 12+ patients with minimal help on the night shift, he said that we were much better off than many other hospitals. Is that true?

[joannedianeubalubao]

for me the maximum number of patients per is 4 so that they have an enought attention to their patient

[bear_mom]

Goal is 4 patients per RN when working alone, but occassionaly we have 5 patients is there is a large influx of ER admits/unknown OR patients. If we are team nursing (with a LPN) we can have 8/9 patients. We don't have aides/techs/CNAs.

Work days in Michigan.

Emily

[MereBuffNurse, BSN, RN]

We have 6-7, with an aid. If we don't have an aid, we do 5 total care.

[Info(RN)matics]

So we're really being shortchanged here in New York, aren't we?

I want to move to California!

[Grow_a_Soul]

I just accepted an Oncology and Pulmonary Med-Surg position, Nights. 16 patients and they said there are typically 2 RN's and a tech at night. Im nervous about this. Seems like a large load to me. 7-8 a piece. Ugh. But day shift does it with 3 nurses so they figure nights should be able to handle it with 2. I just pray that it doesnt throw me into burnout mode.

[kauainursing]

In my facility, at most, it is a 1 RN to 7 acute patients. On a 12 hour shift, we have the luxury of having sometimes a CNA and an LPN who will pass medications and do treatments. For the night shift (11p-7a), there are 2 LPNs scheduled, and its very helpful because in our facility, the LPNs can basically do everything except IVP, start IVs or access central lines. Overall, this works well for our facility.

[mightymitern]

Maasachusetts here.

Days: 5 max mostly 4 with most of the D/C's

Eves: 5 max with most of the admissions

Nights: 6 sometimes 7

we are a tele floor as well

charge nurse on eves may or may not have a 4-5 pt assignment, and overnight charge always has an assignment of 6. Not good if you're handling a crisis or two AND have to handle all of your own pt's. and make up the assignment for the next shift, and run ppl to xray,mri etc.

[brimama]

i work in tennessee and the typical med surg unit has a ratio of 7 nurses and 3 tech with the charge nurse floating. this is a ratio of 1:6

[brimama]

nights is no different than days--our ratio on med surg stays the same and with oncology i think you need more due to the emotional aspect with the pt and family

[BluegrassRN]

I work on a medical floor is a smallish hospital, census is usually between 18-26 pts. Kansas.

On days and evenings the RNs have between 3-4 patients, with 1-2 aides on the floor to help out.

On nights, we have 4-5 pts per RN, with 1-2 aides on the floor helping out.

Your director is a crazy mofo. I'd laugh in his/her face and walk out before taking that many patients.

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

I'm in south MS and work days. What we are supposed to have for our 30 bed med-surg floor is 2 CNAs and a 4:1 ratio for pt/nurse. What happens 80% of the time is 5:1, 15% of the time 4:1, and 5% of the time we go higher. Never been past 7:1 yet, though... As for the 2 CNAs, it seems when we have 2, one will always get pulled somewhere else. We usually have at least the one (whoopee) for 30 pts. Maybe 20% of the time we end up with no CNAs at all. I will say, though, that the higher ratios are usually caused by an unexpected call-in or injury. Usually, we have enough staff to cover at least the 5:1 ratio and hopefully have a CNA, too.

[snuggles49]

Michigan

Rural Hospital

Medical

Type of Patients: Lots of elderly, Infectious (MRSA), Dialysis, Tele (Dialysis done by off site nurse who comes in to do treatment, Tele is monitored off unit), surgical patients(mainly if not a "clean" case.) Avg. at least 4-6 admissions on a busy day with anywhere 2 to 10 discharges.

Day Shift :can go up to 7 patients per nurse with usually 2 Cna this will be a Lpn or Rn assignment with the Rn resourcing an Lpn. If only one Cna the ratios still are the same

Night Shift: Again 7 patients per Rn or Lpn. Cna almost every noc unless call off