Nurse to Patient Ratio

Nurses Safety

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:mad:RATIO 11 TO 1 AND ONE CNA...NOT SAFE....HOW DO YOU STOP IT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO!!! UNSAFE AND POOR PATIENT CARE....PLEASE HELP!

I work in a skilled nursing facility where most of the pt's are just as acute as med/surg pt's and our ratio is 24:1 with 2 STNA's. Sometimes I feel it is a little ridiculous, but I manage. 11:1 on an actual med/surg floor though is just ridiculous and totally unsafe!

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Specializes in IMC/Neuro/Trauma/ED Triage/OR/Med/Surg.

Unfortunately, This is nothing new. I have worked on a step-down unit for the last 5 years; where on night shift we could have up to 6 IMC patients with NO tech, and be in charge. It was a nightmare. However, since venturing out to other hospitals, via traveling- I have came to the conclusion that this is nothing out of the ordinary. Almost every hospital I have been to lately, has patient ratios up to 12:1. It is completely unsafe, however- what do you do? nothing. And just think if our lovely President gets his way, we will be in even worse shape than we are now! Cross your fingers and hope you don't lose your license!

ps- I'm not disagree-ing with you at all! I completely agree that its unsafe!

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Specializes in Cardiac, PCU, Surg/Onc, LTC, Peds.

I can't even begin to imagine how to care for that many acute care pts! This is totally wrong. Insurance premiums go up and the quality of care plummets.

My hospital ratios are never more than 5:1 at noc, 4:1 evening, 3-4:1 on days and no it isn't California. All the hospitals in this metro area are staffed roughly the same, mine is Magnet/Union but not alll facilities are.

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I had 10 pts today. Thats my usual. I'm tired of it. I have no life after work because I have to stay 1hr + to finish my charting because there is no time during the day to sit for coffee nevermind meals. Good thing my GF works on the same ward I do or I would see her 1 time a month.

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Specializes in LDRP, Medical, Surgical, Pediatrics.

They are crazy and you are crazy for taking report....it is your right to refuse. You have to protect your license no one else cares in the end. Sad fact but true.

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We have two floors and one nurse on each. There is SIXTY residents to ONE nurse - I feel so bad for our nurses. There are four CNA's on each floor, so 15 residents each. Not one single person at our entire facility is able to provide the best level of care to each resident, it is impossible. It sucks. Can you tell that I am giving nursing a second thought?

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Oh, and I know LTC care is totally different... but sixty is still WAY too many for any nurse. Ever. And I don't work at an assisted living facility. This place is total care.

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I work a med surg floor in the western us. I sympathize with all of you regarding overload and stress. I wont bore you with the details. I just wanted to say how helpful this forum is in putting nursing in a perspective. It is easy, particularly working nights, to start feeling isolated and alone in the "battle". It does me good to see that we all seem to be in the same boat. Not that I have a way to change it, but it makes me realize that we all have an amazingly difficult job to do and we are all together in spirit if not physically. Hang in there and hope for better days.......Thanks to all of you for what you do!

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"RATIO 11 TO 1 AND ONE CNA...NOT SAFE....HOW DO YOU STOP IT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO!!! UNSAFE AND POOR PATIENT CARE....PLEASE HELP!"

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oh is that true? where are you working? i knew this problem could be found upon policy/guideline in hospital , try to check out and notify it from the admin and let you know whatever explanation they have,try to balance the advantages and disadvantages to your part.

but if the case is over, find another job and save your self and your license

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Specializes in med/surg.

I certainly feel better about staffing at my hospital now! I work med/surg tele, and our ratios are 6:1, sometimes 7, sometimes 4-5. Plus, there is usually a tech for each nurse. 10 is simply unsafe, and nurses need to speak up to protect themselves from an unsafe practice that will likely end in poor outcomes and nurse burnout (at best) and lawsuits and losing licenses (at worst)

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Specializes in FNP/FPMHNP-BC.

Last night they wanted to give me 12 patients. I suddenly got a headache and generalize body pain, went to the ED and afterwards went home for the night. For some reason I can't really handle 12 patients anymore.

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Ugh I work a heavy med surge floor and even 6-7 is too much. I am a new nurse but it's crazy. 5 patients, no problem. Add on that #6 or #7 and the level of care I can provide suffers dramatically.

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