CNA/patient ratio

[ashleed]

*Trying this again as only part of my original post was viewable.

I'm curious to know what the CNA to patient ratio is at your facility? I typically have 16 patients from 7P-7A on an inpatient rehab floor. I'm responsible for answering call lights, toileting, Accu-Cheks, bedtime snacks, vital signs on each patient at least once a shift. Our 16-bed unit typically stays full with currently one CNA and two nurses. As I was saying, I'm responsible for vitals at least once per shift on each patient and will follow up on anything out of range as well as low blood sugars. Of course, there is charting involved for all care provided, 2 water passes, as well as some other clerical tasks to be completed. I often feel overwhelmed as I am often helping one patient and the majority of the nurses will come find me to tell me that so and so needs to go to the bathroom or is in need of such and such. I'm very grateful any time they do answer a call light and apologize that I didn't get to it but also thank them. I don't want to bother or interrupt their med pass or charting but this isn't the kind of care I want to provide. The last night I worked a patient told me that it seemed that the techs were spread too thin and didn't have enough time for her. I apologized and felt sincerely bad about the situation. My nurse manager has tried to put a positive spin on things and say I basically run the unit at night but I really don't find much comfort in that. I'm afraid that money has taken priority over good care. Perhaps this job isn't a good fit for me, even though I'm often praised for doing a good job. What is your unit like?

[Studentnurse365]

I work in an icu and we were recently bought out by a new company. With that change we were told 1 tech to 21 beds. We are looking into changing the duties of the techs so they don't feel so overwhelmed.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

When I worked at a nursing home it was generally one tech to 10-15 residents. Sometimes when we were short staffed I had to take complete care of up to 20 patients. Currently, at the ER I work at it's usually around 10 patients per tech. If we are short staffed it can be up to 30 patients per tech, but in those circumstances there is also a medic to help.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When I worked in subacute SNF rehab (a.k.a. nursing home rehab), the CNA/patient ratio could be up to 30 patients per CNA on the night shift. The CNA to patient ratio averaged about 1 to 10 at the specialty rehab hospital where worked until recently.

[NeuroRehabRN]

The rehab hospital I worked at for years had a ratio of anywhere between 3 and 6 patients per PCT. It depended on which unit you were on, and whether you worked day or night. The spinal cord floor would have 3 to 4 during the day, and the brain injury floor was 5 to 6 for day shift. One or two more were added to the load for the night shift.

[Larry2016]

If you are doing 21 patients as a nurse tech, get out. That is not a safe ratio. Seriously. It is a set up for failure.

[Dyvinite, RN]

I agree. In my rehab hospital we have between 6-9 patients depending on the census. I work 5am-5:30pm and am responsible for doing vitals 3 times a day, getting patients to the dining room 3 times and day, and showers and answering call lights throughout the day. We have inpatient PT,OT, and speech. I have 1 nurse who is assigned to the same patients as I am and everyone no matter if they are housekeeping, case manager, etc is responsible for answering the call lights to at least see what the patient needs. Since they are not trained to ambulate the patient they must find the nurse, PT, or tech to help the patient but they still cannot ignore the light. We have a good system.