Specialties Med-Surg
Published Jun 27, 2012
You are reading page 2 of What is your nurse-patient ratio?
Aurora77
861 Posts
On our floor, only those on post op day 1 are considered fresh. I work nights and have anywhere from 4 to 6 patients, depending on the acuity and the charge nurse (some of our charges take more patients than others). Day shift has a similar ratio.
eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN
728 Posts
Telemetry floor here. Days has 1:6, nights 1:8 although it's usually no more than 6 ever. However, sometimes the 6 you started with are all discharged and by the end you have 6 different patients. Usually a LPN if there are 6 or more patients per nurse. 1 PCA at night even if all 24 beds taken, 1:8 for techs on days.
When we start pulling sheaths (sometime this year) we will be 1:4 days & nights.
I enjoy our ratios usually. Biggest turnover in the hospital though.
DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN
151 Posts
Dude, even so, with that kind of acuity, even on Rehab at the nursing home I used to work at, the ratio was 1 RN-5-7 and the CNAs were 1-15. I can't imagine being responsible for 53 patients who have the acuity described above with only 2-3 CNAs to help. That's insanity and any place that would do that, I NEVER want to be, and I never want one of my family members there either.
Something is gonna get missed in a situation like that and not only will someone lose their license, but a patient will be harmed in the process. SCARY.
noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP
834 Posts
Day's and PM's the max is 1:6.
Night's the max is 1:7.
I work on an ortho/neuro/trauma/general surgical floor.
nursetiffany.
45 Posts
42:usually 2.
plus 3-4 aides.
i work in LTC>
jennilynn
84 Posts
I usually have 4 or 5.
tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
Days and nights 1:5 max. with 2 CNA for work between 5 nurses. On the average it may be 3. Not too bad and I don't complain. I can't believe hospitals still run 6 plus pts on day shift. I worked in a facility like that and it was hard. Some days we would completely turn over the floor.
Cainmara
2 Posts
We get 6 or 7 pts. each and they are heavy for the most part. We have 2-3 techs on night shift. We get a lot of admissions that belong on other floors but they have no room so send them to us. Lots of isolation pts. and confused people as well. No unit secretary and the charge nurse often takes patients.
ukjenn231
228 Posts
When I worked in Kentucky, the ratio was 1:4 tele and 1:5 med surg. 24/7. It was upheld pretty well, too.
Now I work in Florida, where I've had as many as 8 on nights. I think 1:6 is most common on both shifts.
It's a good thing I love the beach so much or I'd be running back to my unbelievable ratios!
PediLove2147, BSN, RN
649 Posts
I work on a floor with a mix of neurology, trauma, and surgical (mainly neuro, urology, GYN) patients.
1:5 on days. 1:6 on nights. We are fighting for better ratios, not like we'll win though.
amberstar25
3 Posts
What state do you live in? California? 1 tech to 10 pts is familiar. You've got a good spot! I hired on in texas I thought it was 1-5 but lately its 1-6 and 1 tech to 12 pts. A unit secretary will be on the unit just to round and see if there is a stack of orders to enter.
windowrn
27 Posts
The tele floor where I am hoping to start next month has 30 beds is 1:5 days, 1:6 nights with techs at 1:10, plus a unit secretary and charge nurse who does not take patients.