How units are run?

On my unit:

I work third shift. We do total care and we don't have an aide. (On my shift, the charge nurse takes a full patient load.) The LPN's and RN's all have their own patients. (We all work together)

We take taped report, and after report the charge nurse splits the patients up. If I am charge, I ask where everyone was the night before. Usually I give them the same patients. Say we have 21 patients and four nurses. Five patients for three nurses, six for one nurse. The nurse with six patients won't get an admission unless the other three nurses all get an admission.

Things I consider:

Where are most of the empty rooms? (because that's where the admits will go)

Is anyone getting blood products in that section? (RN if possible)

Are there alot of IV push meds in that section? (RN if possible)

Are there too many high acuity/demanding patients in one section?

It's really nothing like they taught me in nsg school, but it works for us and for the way our unit is set up.