How many minutes for each patient?

Nurses Relations

Published

Specializes in retired from healthcare.

"She needs to complete her patient care in a timely manner."

After a few years of patient care I learned to take this advice with a grain of salt.

I tried taking care of four patients every hour.

I set the timer on my watch to try to accomplish this.

This was amusing to those who were working with me and really just does not work.

I decided that most times it takes about 20 minutes to wash, move and change each one.

One R.N. teacher said I should be taking five or ten minutes for each patient.

Maybe this is true in some places but not others.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Years ago a place I worked wanted us to improve or efficiency and did a time study. They found they didn't didn't have a leg to stand on ...when the company did the analysis the analyzed that nurses put 14 1/2 hours of work into eight hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

5-10 minutes to do what?? A head-to-toe sure, but a bed bath w/ linen change and reposition? Dressing changes, except for small wounds/incisions? I can't imagine doing that in 5-10 minutes without doing a reeeeeeally shoddy job. Shoddy and rough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

I agree, 5-10mins to do WHAT? I work L&D so don't have to bathe/wash patients for the most part, but when in nursing school(only 6months ago), I found that it took me a good 45mins to an hour to get my patients assessed, bathed, linens changed, etc. It is TIME consuming!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Five to ten to make an assessment, then at least10-15 mins to do ADLs...you're changing linens while bathing the pt, so for at least a set up you can get them OOB then change the be within 1 min.; totals depending in size, with linen change and wash, no wounds or treatment 2-5 mins. That's including small talk, goal setting and reinforcing of teaching, answering questions.

Love clustering of care to get the whole picture. :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Time limits for care is an exercise in futility. Every patient is different. Getting a pt OOB can take anywhere from two minutes to...whatever! One patient I had took 30 minutes: a failed attempt with a Sara lift, then two nurses, a CNA, and an attending for a simple stand and pivot to a chair. Another DX'd inpatient with situational depression took me quite a lot of time to even convince them to get OOB!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment