Originally Posted by rngreenhorn I often float to a surgical unit at my current hospital. In that unit we have 5-8 patients (usually 5-6, occasionally 8), but the RN always has a CNA if she has more than 3 patients. The difference between the rehab and the surgical unit is the RN and the CNA have the same group of patients. So the RN won't have 2 CNA with 8 patients. It is tough with 8 patients with one CNA, thank goodness that doesn't happen that often.
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Holy smokes - I'd feel like I was in heaven if I could work like that.
My home floor at the hospital I work at is Rehab.
Sometimes my load is 14 rehab patients with 2 nurses. Day shift there is hectic. Have to have all of them up, dressed, pottied, hygiene, etc. by 8:30 - 9:30 am for therapy.
And then if census is low in rehab, we rehab CNA's get pulled. I've had work loads of 20+ patients by myself along with the nurses assigned on days and evening shifts to boot! Spend the whole day getting patients on and off carts to go for tests, operations. Takes 2-3 hours to get all the vitals on them. God bless the nurses - 99% of them help me all they can.
At this hospital, a CNA's typical load is 10+ day shift; 15-20+ evening. I was pulled to PCU the other evening - had 16 to take care of.
Is this normal?
Getting worse
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