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Discussion

Feeling used

]I have been a LTC LPN for 10 years, I have dabbled in other areas, but keep coming back to LTC, I currently work in a facility 1 mile from my house (saves BIG on gas money) anyway, my question is what is legal as far as nurse to patient ratio? I work 3rd shift, and every wed. and every other weekend they have a QMA on the lower level with 43 residents, and myself on the upper level (skilled) with 32 residents, there are 4 total cna's in the building, sooo, not only am I responsible for 75 residents, I have all my skilled assessments, meds/tx's etc, to do, I have to go to the lower level and perform 2 in and out catheters, which can take up to 45 minutes, I also have to listen to lung sounds, bowel sounds check edema on the Q's weekly's, ATB charting etc, and then enter all of that into the computer, AND, if there are any falls, etc, I have to do all the assessments, Incident reports, etc, AND, not only do I have my own med pass, with a gtube, IV's, blood draws and so forth I have to go BACK down and give the insulin because apparently the day shift nurse (with 3 of them) are not able to do this, I have spoken with my DON about this and gotten no where! Furthermore if I don't get to do their insulins, say I have some sort of emergency upstairs, the day shift nurse (one in particular) will go crying to the DON about how I am not doing my job:madface: does anyone have any suggestions? I am getting really burned out:(HELP

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That is A LOT of people for one person. On our skilled unit, we have 14 patients for one nurse and 12 for the other. Then at night it is one nurse and 26 patients. But that is from 10p-6a. The rest of the time there is ALWAYS two nurses. Usually from about 10a-6p there is three nurses during the week. Then on weekends there is only two. On our long term floors, we have two nurses for 50 patients and on the secured Alzheimers Unit there is one nurse and 26 patients. And the nurses on each unit are responsible for their own skilled assessments. That sounds like a really UNSAFE place to work. We do not have to do any meds on the other floors unless there is an IV and no IV certified LPN to do it. If they do need help then I will show them how to do it so in the future they can do it themselves. I would get the heck out of there fast!! Good luck!

75 patients ~ WOW ~ too much for one person!!! I work per diem at a LTC facility one day per week. I work 3-11 and am responsible for 30 patients. The 11-7 shift nurse is responsible for 60 patients. I will not work the 11-7 shift, because I feel it is unsafe and I don't feel capable of providing adequate care for that number of patients. Personally, if I were you I would refuse that patient load. Too much liability to you. All you need is for two critical situations to occur at one and you have a severe problem. There are other jobs out there. Best of luck to you and I hope everything works out for the best for you!!!

That. Is. Insane.

Insane.

Yes, you are being used - is saving on the gas money worth it?

Find the state's website or call. Our facility used to have it posted / framed on the wall @ our job.

Six staff to 75 residents ,that's more than a 1:10 ratio! I find it hard with 35!At the moment we are working with only two carers and one RN on night shift and we are really under pressure.I cannot imagine having to do 75 and would not contemplate a job where I had to convenient or not.

This really does not seem to be safe for you or your patients! Run now before it is too late.

Run Run Run! It amazes me that places are even allowed to staff like this.

  • Experts

Was in a similar situation although there were only 52 residents. Had an upstairs and downstairs. Won't go into the details, but left after less than 6 months. A telling story that the other licensed nurses except for one FT and one PT all left also. Maybe your intuition is telling you that you should be moving on. I read your post and came to the conclusion that I would not stay under those circumstances. But I can't speak for you. Only you know how much you are capable of, or willing, to put up with. Good luck.

Added thought: In another place was responsible for up to 80, but not the only licensed person in the facility. Could call for help if needed, not that anyone would necessarily help me.

  • Author

Thanks to all who replied to my post, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one who thinks that this is CRAZY, my DON makes it sounds like I have won some prize because she says I am the only one she would "trust" to be in charge of the building, what happens if I leave? geez, even I know they would hire some other sucker and feed her or him the same line! funny thing is, I have no title as "supervisor" nor do I get paid any more for doing this, oh yeah, my DON also let me know that there is no reason why I should not get my 1/2 hour luch break on these nights! apparently she lives in a dream world!!I only missed 2 days last year, and none so far this year, I'm thinking of calling in one of these days, so that maybe someone else can see that putting all this on one person is INSANE!!!thanks again

I'm thinking of calling in one of these days, so that maybe someone else can see that putting all this on one person is INSANE!!!thanks again

You're welcome. But they won't see it.

Quit. Before there's a catastrophe.

Thanks to all who replied to my post, it makes me feel better that I am not the only one who thinks that this is CRAZY, my DON makes it sounds like I have won some prize because she says I am the only one she would "trust" to be in charge of the building, what happens if I leave? geez, even I know they would hire some other sucker and feed her or him the same line! funny thing is, I have no title as "supervisor" nor do I get paid any more for doing this, oh yeah, my DON also let me know that there is no reason why I should not get my 1/2 hour luch break on these nights! apparently she lives in a dream world!!I only missed 2 days last year, and none so far this year, I'm thinking of calling in one of these days, so that maybe someone else can see that putting all this on one person is INSANE!!!thanks again

That is abuse! :madface:

No, don't call in.......seems like they don't WANT to see the problem. I would definitely look into a job change and fly out of there.

Good luck!

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