How Many Residents Do You Care For On Your Unit?

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Naturally, I think I have waaay too many residents to care for :rolleyes: so I'd like to do a quick reality check:

As a charge nurse in a LTC/SNF, how many residents are you responsible for on your unit? What shift do you work, and which state do you work in? (It's OK if you don't want to indicate the state--I am just curious if it varies by state...)

I'll start! ;)

41 residents on 3-11 shift in Hawaii.

Specializes in Long-term care.

We have a 160 bed facility w/ a census of around 140. Currently on days there are 4-5 nurses for 5 halls. If there are 4 nurses the ratio is approx 44:1 w/ 2-3 CNA's on our long-term care side, approx 25:1 w/ 2 CNA's on our rehab wing and 34:1 w/ 3-4 CNA's on our Alzheimer's unit. On nights there are only 3 nurses for the same amount of patients and approx 2 CNA's per hall. We work 12 hour shifts.

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It's really too bad that money drives the business instead of safety.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm in Vermont. I've cared for 25 residents (evenings), 17 residents (days), 30 residents (evenings), and 1 nightmare 60-resident night shift.

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

I am new to this site, hope this is ok. I worked in NJ as a Charge Nurse on the 3-11 shift. I found it very distressing. I had 34 residents. My unit was mostly sub acute with maybe 10 LTC residents. No matter how I tried to organize or get my Aides organized it didnt come to fruitiion. I got fed up. After numerous lifting related injuries I cannot do that job anymore. Very sad for me. But I will find something else less physical. I think a good patient to nurse ratio would be 12 to one. With 2 nurse aides. But then.....they would say I am dreaming.

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1 LPN (me) for 146 residents. There are 4-5 CNAs for these residents. There is one RN for the building on my shift (11-7). There are 400 residents in the building.

It's crazy.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

It's not believable.

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

No freakin way, where is this Nursing home? Planet X?

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No, I don't work on Planet X. I'm in Ontario. I "float" around 4 different units of the facility, each has 30-36 residents. Two of these areas have more "needy" residents, and my 2 others have more independent residents. I obviously don't do full med runs, but A LOT of them ask for prns (Ativan, cough syrup, Percs, etc). In my 0600 med run, I have around 12 residents who get pills daily, but this does not include days where some get Actonel, or if they have antibiotics.

I do have to do a lot of finger sticks and vitals. When one of the residents falls, or I need to send one out to the hospital, it becomes a night from hell, because on a "normal" night I'm usually struggling to get everything done. Needless to say I often stay an extra hour to finish my charting.

When I come home from work crying, my husband does not understand why. I don't think anyone can if they have not worked on my shift. The nurse who replaces me on my days off will often call in sick...she has even told me I'm crazy to be doing this. It's going on my 10th month of working there.

I'm definitely looking for another posting!!

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

Sounds like you should be a supervisor instead of a floor nurse. How could you possible work at a place like this. I hope you find something else thats much less abusive. NO NURSE should have that much work or patients to care for.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.
I think a good patient to nurse ratio would be 12 to one. With 2 nurse aides. But then.....they would say I am dreaming.

When I worked acute care med/surg 3-11, we had 7-9 with no aide. I do not see 12 to one and 2 aids being viable. (of course this was 15 years ago.

Staffing 134 beds

Two Units.

Each Unit:

6-2---- 2 nurses, 1 CMAs, and 7 CNAs

2-10 --- 3 nurses and 6 CNAs

10 - 6 --- 1 1/2 nurses ( one nurse floats between the units) and 4 aids

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geez!!! come on....let's get together and go to Washington and march or something!!! We gotta get this stopped!!!! Anyone up for organizing something? REALLY, because I am in!!!! It is our constitution right to assembly!!!!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
geez!!! come on....let's get together and go to Washington and march or something!!! We gotta get this stopped!!!! Anyone up for organizing something? REALLY, because I am in!!!! It is our constitution right to assembly!!!!

The reimbursement for most facilities is based on Medicare and Medicaid rates which are set by the government. Until those rates reflect the cost of the care given, facilities will not be able to have more staff and keep the doors open. I read an article which stated (and I am paraphrasing) that if you do the math, the reimbursement for someone in a nursing home in Massachusetts under Medicaid is an hourly rate LESS THAN minimum wage.

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