Is this understaffing (or is it me?)

LPN4Life · Jul 4, 2004

I work nights and in charge of 48 res, I have 4 aides, I give my own pills but only have about 20 residents to pass pills to and do accuchecks.

I don't see how 2 aides can get everyone up in the morning unless you have someone coming in at 5am?

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jul 4, 2004

Your 11-7 CNA's are expected to get EVERYONE up for breakfast? On our 60 bed unit there are 3 on 11-7 and they get about 8 people up and dressed....the Alzheimer's floor has 41 residents with 2 CNA's and they get 4 or 5 people up, and the subacute floor has 41 residents with 2 CNA's and they usually get no one up

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jul 4, 2004

Your 11-7 CNA's are expected to get EVERYONE up for breakfast? On our 60 bed unit there are 3 on 11-7 and they get about 8 people up and dressed....the Alzheimer's floor has 41 residents with 2 CNA's and they get 4 or 5 people up, and the subacute floor has 41 residents with 2 CNA's and they usually get no one up

joni p · Jul 19, 2004

Don't go there! Do not risk your license. Do not risk making a mistake because you feel rushed and hurried. There has to be something else out there.

Don't touch it!

Joni

BabyRN2Be · Jul 19, 2004

This reminds of something that happened recently in my family. My fiance's grandma had to move from her LTC because it was closing. Unfortunately, my future MIL was in a rush to find a place to take her and really didn't look at all the options in the area. She put her in a place that was fairly inexpensive, and said just about anything to get their business. They claimed that they could handle an Alzheimer's pt, they did it all the time (no, this was not a locked facility). My future MIL was called because her mom actually left the building twice over her first weekend - they were actually surprised that she did that! :uhoh3:

They were very open with her about staffing though - one LPN for 50 residents. No CNA's, techs, etc. It was insane.

Needless to say, they moved her to another facility the following week. It's a locked unit, but her mom is really messed up from all the moving. I feel really badly for her. She's very anxious, wandering, etc. I wish I could do something, but she doesn't remember me. I do expect this, but I wish I could help more. She's really a doll and I wish I had known her before the Alzheimer's really affected her.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2004

.......I hope and pray I never end up in one of these so-called "nursing" homes.[/b]
They are so pretty from the outside but inside the lights are on but NO NURSES ARE HOME........OR CNAS FOR THAT MATTER....GOD HELP THE RESIDENTS!

You said it!

BHolliRNMS · Jul 19, 2004

on 11-7 we have 1 nurse to 60 residents. The 11-7 nurse is responsible for acute charting, supervision of cnas (3-4), PRN meds, emergencies, 6am FSBS, and 6am meds (mainly the tube feeders). I have worked it many times and it isn't bad.

mead · Jul 23, 2004

hi there,

Iam an r.n. at a249 bed facility in Canada. On nights- 11 to 7, there is two nurses and 3 hca's for 98 residents! On evening which is my shift, I have myself 2 lpn's and 6 hca's. Iam responsible for 32 residents meds , treatments and all in between plus over all be respnsible for the three wings. We have a great group but do we work HARD! It sounds like the work load is the same everwhere.:)

Catsrule16, RN · Jul 23, 2004

I recently interviewed at a 120-bed, LTC facility. 118 beds are currently occupied; 16 are a locked Alzheimer's unit and the rest are two wings consisting of fifty + residents.
I would be working weekend option on nights.
I asked about the staffing and was told that on my wing (50 + residents), there would be a nurse (me), and 2 nurse aides.
That's it.
I feel that is ridiculous.

In SC this would be inadequate staffing. Minimum Staffing requirements:

Nurses all shifts 1 for every 44 residents

1st shift (7-3) CNAs 1 for every 9 residents

2nd shift (3-11) CNAs 1 for every 13 residents

3rd shift (11-7) CNAs 1 to every 22 residents.

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2004

This is pretty much the staffing I have where I work. 56 residents 2 CNA's and 1 nurse...me.

I have 5 G-tubes, numerous IV's, labs to get, treatments to do, vitals to get, charting and assessments to do, 4 colostomy changes and a ton of other little trivial things that *MUST* be done....

all this and 2 CNA's (1 of which is a bi*ch that is very snotty and crass) that take 2 1/2 hours to do rounds and while they are busy, I am answering their call lights, all this WITH the DON's insistence

and

finishing up the previous shifts orders and labs (because they didn't have time to get done..)

I think that although it is do-able....it is also too much and should be either a 3rd aide (to free up the nurse from answering lights) or add a second nurse to be able to get things done.

pj_marie · Jul 31, 2004

The staffing where I work looks like this:

6a-2p

4 nurses, 8-11 CNAs, 2-3 Restorative and 2 unit clerks

2p-10p

3 nurses, 6 CNAs

10p-6a

2 nurses, 4 CNAs

and 6a-2p shift has to have everyone that is not bed-bound up and at breakfast by 7:15a. Damn near impossible to do too!

PJ *Proud CNA*

donmomofnine · Jul 31, 2004

The staffing where I work looks like this:
6a-2p
4 nurses, 8-11 CNAs, 2-3 Restorative and 2 unit clerks
2p-10p
3 nurses, 6 CNAs
10p-6a
2 nurses, 4 CNAs
and 6a-2p shift has to have everyone that is not bed-bound up and at breakfast by 7:15a. Damn near impossible to do too!
PJ *Proud CNA*

How many residents?