1:12 patient ration on subacute and transitional care unit.

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

Is 1:12 patient is fair enough in a PM shift 8 hours shift on a subacute and TCU?

thank you.

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

If you mean like in a SNF/Rehab unit out of the hospital, then that's not a bad ratio comparative to other like facilities (although I personally think it's a ridiculous amount because some of the patients are still pretty ill). If you mean in a LTAC, then yes that is way too many patients per nurse. If you mean Progressive Care in a hospital, then that is way, way too many patients per nurse; usually the maximum would be 1:3 or 1:4.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Subacute as "real" subacute with no vents, no drips, minimal tele, minimal IV therapy, at least half are walkie-talkies - about right or slightly worse, with adequate support (CENAs, wound care, etc.). About twice more than ok if there are vents or serious wounds or total care.

LTC - AFAIK, better than most. Current reality of LTC is ridiculous, though.

LTACH or stepdown acute - no way. 1:5 is borderline with adequate support and if no one is getting unstable, which is not always the case.

Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

It's not snf nor ltc. It's a community subacute and transitional care center? It's not inside the hospital though but it's under community hospital. Idk. I'm sorry I'm kinda confused :(

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Geezus, that sounds really high! I went to interview for a transitional ICU position & I thought 1:5-6 was high. That just sounds outright ridiculous!

Please describe the patient acuity and the nurse responsibility/ duties.

Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

The DON said some of then have trachs, vent, some IVs? And they some wound treatments? They are patients from medsurg and ICU

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Too high of a pt load!!

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
The DON said some of then have trachs, vent, some IVs? And they some wound treatments? They are patients from medsurg and ICU

That's too many patients to have with such a high acuity. I'd run away; far & fast!

Specializes in Ambulatory, Corrections, SNF, LTC, Rehab.

OMG!!! so should I declined the offer???? :(

Idk what to do please advice! Even my friends told me it's high volume of patients :(

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
OMG!!! so should I declined the offer???? :(

Idk what to do please advice! Even my friends told me it's high volume of patients :(

Well I personally wouldn't take a job with that ratio & acuity, ever. How badly do you need a job?

The fact that you are going to have to take care of patients on vents, trachs, IVs, do wound care & do other tasks is too much. Your patient load should be lower, like half. During my interview for the TICU she told me that I would never do wound care, if a patient had issues like that they would ship them out. Also the ratio was 1:5,1:6 at *most*.

I have lived through a couple of shifts is facilities like these. Max load was 8 patients , and even that was not do-able.

Imagine 2 vented patients, many patients on tube feedings with crushed meds and a gazillion dressings.

These for profit facilities double their profit by overworking nurses. Ask to shadow for a shift....you will run.

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