RN:Pt Ratios

Specialties Rehabilitation

Published

I'm considering an offer for an RN position with an independent inpatient sub-acute rehab facility. The pts I've been told are mainly CHF, ortho, and stroke. Pt ratio is 9-12 ( most likely you will have 12) with a designated CNA and extra help at AM.and PM baths/meals. I'm used to 5-6 ratio on a med-surg floor and inpt rehab. How foes this sound for subacute? Thanks :)

I'm in Florida and just started at a facility where I was told my typical patient load would be 12. Just a couple days in I see the truth... 2 RNs split the floor of 45 to 50 patients on average. Yep 23 to 25 patients each.

When I asked about it I was told state law (Florida) says: rehab/short term 1 nurse per 20 patients, long term 1 nurse per 30 patients.

Would be great to figure out what other state laws say about ratios.

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Specializes in LTC.

1:12 here and we have med techs to pass pills, fortunately.

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I found it really depended on acuity. My pt load fluctuated from 8-12. Seems low. It got difficult when I had pts on TPN, IV ABX, and multiple dressing changes. I also did most of my own vitals so if I had any Q4 (which in retrospect makes me wonder why they were on sub-acute if I were to do Q4 vital checks) that would also throw things off with the crazy med pass schedule our NP would set up. Add dressing changes, and the dressings that would fall off so the RN would have to redress, or the nail clipping or the oral care, etc. -- your time got eaten up. I did not find the skilled care to be hard, just most of my work was CNA level care to about 11 pts on top of med passes and RN administrative work of med reconciliations, POEs, admits and d/c. I just left the facility to return to a hospital unit.

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