Published
What is the nurse to patient ratio where you work?
Also be careful what state you work in. For example in NJ there is state mandated protection for ICUs, telemtry, pediatrics but nothing for med/surg
Telemtry in NJ is 1Rn:6pt at max any shift
ICU adult can be up to 1:3
At every shift though acuity must be accounted for by state regs. Problem is that hospitals have a terrible record on how to account for acuity
The first place I did my Med/Surg clinicals (i'm still a student) the day shift had 4:1 about 70% of the time and 3:1 30% of the time...no joke...and they even had 1 CNA for every 12 pts. The nurses do have to start their own IVs now (the hospital just took the IV team away). Guess what? The yearly employee turnover rate is about 4%. They don't need travel nurses 'cause every nursing position is filled. See what happens when nurses have good working conditions?
StudentNurseShaun
9 Posts
I am on placement in a unit that looks after patients with respiratory and endocrinology abnormalities. there are (if you're lucky) 2 trained nurses (RGNs) and 1-2 Health/care assistances looking after 31 patients. I am interested to find out if there is a legal framework that states how many nurses are needed for said amount of patients.
shaun