Bad patient ratio on Med/Surg

[lpnQT25]

I need some help.. I work on a med/surg floor at a local hospital 34 beds on one end 28 on the other. Our nurse managers recently implemented a new " team Nursing" . It is the style of RN, LPN, and an aide if the "numbers" call for one. I know several hospitals who do this and things are good, but our assignments don't go by acuity. And the numbers per team are day & evening up to 12 with constant admission and discharges, and nights usaully 15 per team. this is without a charge or desk nurse. days sometimes gets one. Everyone is unhappy. We have done this for about 6 weeks and at least 10 nurses have quit. Now we are having to work short because they don't have the staff. They won't do agency. They aren't receptive to our cries.. We all feel the care is unsafe. I know the RN's contract is coming up , so I would hope they may be able to get something done... But us LPN's have no prayer in site! They don't favor us to begin with.. I am afraid they may start mandating us now that the staffing is short. All the new grads are avoiding us like the plague.. I guess news travels fast. I don't want to just quit... I like my job and the location... There aren't many hospital jobs around here.

Please ..... any suggestions ?????

[EvanRN123]

Ouch!!! Sounds like a bad situation. We do tea nursing and we have it really good, I have to admit.

RN alone - start with 3 or 4, 4 max

RN, PCT (aide) - start with 4 or 5, 6 max

RN, LPN - start with 6, 7 max

RN, LPN, aide - 8 max

We also usually have an admission nurse.

We also have charge nurse and unit secretary. We do not have an official way to rate acuity but everyone is really good about letting whoever is making assignments out if loads are really off or if they are too much.

[lpnQT25]

Wow! Sounds like a nice work day! I just wish our management would se the light... Before it's too late and they have the worst reputation ever! Thanks for the input.

[JulieRN07]

That sounds just like the hospital I worked at as a new LPN grad. I only lasted 6 months with the team nursing. I felt like I as the LPN was doing a majority of the work yet not having enough time to really pay attention to any of my 10 patients.

My suggestion to you would be to find and LPN-RN fast track program, then you will not be forced to settle for that type of work environment. The program I just finished was only 12 months and I was able to work weekend option while I went to school. It is very doable and VERY worth it!

Good luck!!