How often do you work without a TECH?

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I'm just curious as to whether working without a tech/CNA/UC, or another type of support staff is a common thing. I work on a very busy med/surg floor, and I understand that there are units with no type of CNA. For those groups, what is the max number or pts you will have at one time? I have been wondering a lot because on my floor, it is becoming more and more common to not have any type of support staff. It even happens often where we do not have a charge nurse either. So no tech, no charge, and 5-6 pts. It is VERY difficult to take on that type workload and a lot of people end up having to stay late to finish things. I don't think it's fair to the pts or the nurses to have so much work, and still be expected not to stay on with too much overtime. Several people have gotten warnings about staying on so late regularly.

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I also want to share the worst part about this. Tons of people want overtime, but it just isn't available with our "numbers" Makes no sense to me.

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I´m from Spain and I know the work is different but I´m surprise to read things like this. I mean, here nurse in charge never work in the unit (she/he organizes the staff and stuff like that) and doesn´t exist specialties (only midwife), that is you have to do everything. I have work in a med/surg floor with 12 patients (hopefully 5-6 patients), and, for me and my colleagues it is normal (but yes, I do not think that this is good for the patients, it is a hard workload where you have to control vital signs, IV line insertions, prepare and administrate medicacion, blood samples, surgical wound care, etc... and in a 7 hours shift). And I have time to do all of this stuff, and more sometimes.

It is not a complaint, I only expose our situation.

Sorry about my english if it is not correct.

Greetings.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

For five years I worked as a nurse in a freestanding acute rehab hospital, and only once did I work without a tech. It happened due to a scheduling mistake, and since it was a holiday, no one wanted to pick up an extra shift on the fly.

So, at least at the places I've previously worked, going without a tech would have been unusual.

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This is my normal daily life at work and I'm on med surg unit as well. Its scary and overwhelming .... I feel like I'm not learning anything. Thanks for asking this

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