Advice for Rehabilitation (Nurse : Resident) Ratio?

Nurseismade RN · Jan 26, 2009

i am new to this forum and a new lpn graduate with no previous health care experience.
i just accepted my first position at a rehabilitation center and i'm finding out that i will have 4 days of orientation. after the orientation i will be on the floor with 28 residents and 2 cna's helping. i'm new at this and i'm curious if this is the norm for (nurse:resident) ratio? also, as a new grad is this a normal amount of training time? i have completed 2 days of the orientation and i have shadowed/assisted 2 different lpn's on the floor. meaning the second night i did half of the work. on both occasions we had 2 hours overtime each and if i'm on my own will i ever be done? my gut feeling is to cut my losses and quit. i want professional advice from other nurses on the ratio. am i just a new grad that needs to learn this is how it is or is this overload and that i should quit before the completion of my orientation? thank you…. new lpn

first of all welcome to this forum and congratulations on being a new nurse. regarding the ratios it seems a little higher than the norm for nursing homes and rehab centers..but not far off. some of my rn nursing friends who work at such facilities say patients ratios can range form 15-26. i did have another friend who said she had 30 and she was an rn also. 4 days orientation seems too short for a new grad. if by the fourth day you are still uncomfortable i would speak to the nurse manager. but know this as you gain more experience you will find it easier. if jobs are plentiful in your area start looking before you quit and during an interview always ask what the patient ratios are. i work in a ltac rehab hospital this may be a better fit for you. we have lots of lpns on the floor. it is a hospital setting with medically acute patients, so we get at the most 5/6 patients. so google ltac in your area and check them out.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2009

When I did nursing home rehab, I would have 15 to 17 patients by myself with 1 CNA, or 30 to 34 patients with a medication aide and 2 CNAs. When I was a new grad, I received only a day and a half of orientation.

Arizona44 · Jan 27, 2009

there are many positions in my area. i have already submitted my letter of thanks but no-thanks. the main reason was after further research and asking around, i found out that this facility has a horrible reputation and is currently under severe scrutiny by the state for neglect. as a new grad looking for work, i have learned 3 lessons from this; first i need to do my research, second i need to ask what to expect for orientation time, and third i need to ask (nurse : resident). after posting this, i read on others and i guess the ratios are common and go up but that’s because there are no laws in place in most states that mandates what the ratios should be. i feel 15 to 20 residents is managable but pass that on a regular basis means high stress and burn-out. these facilities work the nurses toward burn-out not thinking of safety and true care. thank you for your support and reply back!!

lpnflorida · Jan 28, 2009

I work in a Rehabilitation Hospital. If we are primary care we never have more than 4 patients. If we have a CNA with us we usually start with 6-7 patient but by the end of the day with new admissions might have 8-9 patients.