Nurses that work in Hospitals

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

The answers to these questions are so variable. May i suggest you ask for a few minutes of nurses where you are doing clinical or at a hospital in your area and have them answer the above.

Most of the answers will vary depending on census and staff availablity, so maybe im saying there are no clear cut answers.

ChristieRN2B · Feb 12, 2003

Thanks for your reply but part of the project is to see how hospitals that are not in my area differ from the hospitals here. I should have mentioned that. I live in NH. Thanks.

NurseDianne, ADN · Feb 12, 2003

1) 7-12 pts/depending on census/staffing. Georgia

2) I work in a small rural hospital so I work ER/OB/ICU where I'm needed the most, I also do employee health

3)Floor usually 3-4 nurses each unit, 1 ICU, 2 ER, 1-2 OB, same amount tech/cnas

4) float? LOL......when do I not float........I worked 3-11 last night...4 hours in the ER/ 4 hrs on med surg. Today? A few hours in PI, Recovery (OP scope) they just needed help, and my employee health from 1-5 this afternoon.........

5)NO

6)alot

7)complete report......

8)not sure I understand that question...

NO doubt I love what I do.......I 'm just tired.........I work 3-11 m/w.......12 hrs on sundays.......PI/Employee Health T/Thurs.....

School M/W/F....

full schedule

s

ChristieRN2B · Feb 12, 2003

Thanks so much for your quick response! Please, keep them coming!

deespoohbear · Feb 12, 2003

1)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in?

6-8 pts usually Indiana

2)What type of unit do you work on?

General med-surg floor in rural hospital. We also have peds and tele.

3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit

LPN's- 1 on 3-11 shift, and 1 on 11-7a shift, but not always. One full time LPN on day shift. Techs- none CNA's - 3 or 4 on days, 2-3 on evenings, and 1-2 on nights.

4)How often do you float and to where?

Extended care unit (skilled nursing) varies with their call-ins...

ICU- to work as a second nurse

Very rarely to Behavorial Health-my absolute least favorite

5)Do you have mandated overtime?

NO!!!!!

6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty?

Against my will, 3-4 times a year. Get floated to extended care (the work is fine, it is the regs and stuff that drive me nuts)

7)What are your responsibilities before accepting assignments?

To be sure that I can deliver safe, competent care to my patients. To get an accurate report to make sure the patient assignment matches my skills level...

8)What are the facilities responsibilities?

? To do whatever they want and justify it with: A nurse is a nurse is a nurse....

I don't quite understand this question either....

:confused:

Nurse Ratched, RN · Feb 12, 2003

Originally posted by ChristieRN2B
Can anyone please help me? I am a senior nursing student and I am doing a community research project on Nurse/Patient ratios. I need 3 nurses to answer the following questions:

1)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in?

Ratio depends on the shift. Usually 4 or 5:1 or so on days and eves, 8:1 on nocs, assuming a full unit (16 beds.) This ratio is based on staffing matrix that determines how many RNs/LPNs and techs we get for each possible number of patients. Very occasionally the house super will take acuity into account IF there's extra staff to be had. Indiana is my state.

2)What type of unit do you work on?

Medical psychiatric unit

3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit

There is often an RN/LPN team on nights with 1-2 techs depending on the census. Evenings there are a max of 3 nurses, and three techs; days - max of four nurses and two techs, again all dependent on the census. Days has no LPN's working currently - not by design - just a fluke. Evenings has one regular LPN.

4)How often do you float and to where?

When I do float (rarely now) it is only within the psych units.

5)Do you have mandated overtime?

The only time I was ever mandated to stay was when there was a tornado coming through and it was thought there would be a great number of casualties. In that case, a special emergency code was called, and no nursing staff was allowed to leave until the code was lifted. Any attempt to mandate me to stay except under extreme circumstances as that would result in my terminating my employment there.

6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty?

Never. Another choice I make.

7)What are your responsibilies before accepting assignments?
8)What are the facilities responsibilities?

I guess 7 and 8 refer to when floating? N/A

Hope this helps :)

Thanks so much!:)

Sally_ICURN · Feb 12, 2003

1. 1:1 or 1:2 One nurse is never left for more than a few minutes with >2 patients (eg: when a nurse steps away to the bathroom). It is a set ratio and required by California state law (see AB 394 legislation). California is the only state with such ratio laws.

2. Cardiothoracic surgical ICU.

3. Depending on the census of the unit we may have 2-3 respiratory therapists, never more than one CNA for the entire unit and only until 9 or 11 pm on nocs, sometimes no CNA at all, and zero LVN's. (mine's a surgical ICU with 25 beds and a nursing staff of ~100.)

4. Float only to other ICU which is a trauma/med/surg ICU and they float only to us. 99% of my time is spent on my unit.

5. No mandated overtime.

6. Never.

7. Report.

8. Safe, supportive, working enviornment.

emily_mom · Feb 12, 2003

1)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in? 6 pt/1 RN....WI

2)What type of unit do you work on? Medical/Telemetry/Oncology

3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit Maybe 2 a shift if we're lucky....

4)How often do you float and to where? Never

5)Do you have mandated overtime? No

6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty? Never

7)What are your responsibilies before accepting assignments? Report

8)What are the facilities responsibilities? To provide a safe working environment with supportive and knowledgeable staff.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

Originally posted by ChristieRN2B
Can anyone please help me? I am a senior nursing student and I am doing a community research project on Nurse/Patient ratios. I need 3 nurses to answer the following questions:

1)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in?
2)What type of unit do you work on?
3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit
4)How often do you float and to where?
5)Do you have mandated overtime?
6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty?
7)What are your responsibilies before accepting assignments?
8)What are the facilities responsibilities?

Thanks so much!:)

1. Anywhere from 1:4-6....no it is not set...Alabama

2. pulmonary/med-surg

3. Usually 2-4 LPNs on a given shift: 1-4 NAs on a given shift

4. Very seldom do we float.....we are too busy to be pulled anywhere....but we can be pulled everywhere in the hospital

5. Occasionally

6. Seldom

7. Report

8. To provide safe, quality care at a low cost to the patient.....

newbornnurse · Feb 12, 2003

given the way you asked the question, I'm assuming it was to RN's only but hey I consider myself a nurse also so I'll answer your question:

1)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in? 15/1 RN & 1 LVN - Texas

2)What type of unit do you work on? for this answer I'll give you the Med/Surg ratios when I work there

3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit? total staff 3 RN's,3 LVN's, 2 PCS'S

4)How often do you float and to where? anywhere I'm called to, I work in the resource unit, mostly newborn nursery and sometimes Med/Surg

5)Do you have mandated overtime? nope work when I want, at least one scheduled day and one on call day a month

6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty? never

7)What are your responsibilies before accepting assignments? getting a half baked report from the RN who will be the patient's "nurse"

8)What are the facilities responsibilities? pay me

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

)What is your nurse/patient ratio?Is this a set ratio? What state do you live in? 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 (most common) or occas. 4:1 Forgot to add In Ohio :)

2)What type of unit do you work on? Level III Neonatal ICU

3)Number of LPNs-Techs-CNAs on unit? None, we are an RN only staff. We have customer support partners that do the cleaning and isolttes and do gofer stuff for us.

4)How often do you float and to where? It varies with our census. I would say the average is about 3x per year and we only go to Maternal-Child with the exception of L/D, they are a closed unit.

5)Do you have mandated overtime? Yes, not used often, but we have done it.

6)How often do you have to work outside your specialty? See number 4 :)

7)What are your responsibilies before accepting assignments? Signing in, checking the mandatory reading binder, then we get bedside report.

8)What are the facilities responsibilities? To provide a safe working environment with supportive and knowledgeable staff.

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