INTRA AROTIC BALLOON PUMP RATIO/RN/PT

[mror44]

RECENTLY WE WERE ASKED TO PAIR TWO BALLOON PUMP PTS TOGETHER AS AN ASSIGNMENT FOR 1 RN

WE REFUSED BECAUSE WE STATED IT WAS UNSAFE. THE SUPERVISOR REPORTED THIS TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WHICH HAS STATED THAT IF WE REFUSE

WE CAN BE CHARGED WITH INSURBORDINATION. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO OUR UNION BUT TO NO AVAIL

SINCE THEY SAY WE CANNOT REFUSE AN ASSIGNMENT EVEN IF WE FEEL IT UNSAFE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GATHER DOCUMENTATION FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS AS TO WHAT IS THE RATIO FOR THESE PATIENTS.

I APPRECIATE ANY RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE.

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[nurseabc123]

I work at a busy heart hospital where we frequently see IABPs. At times we may have 3 IABP pts on the unit. Only the unstable IABP pts (multiple gtts and lines) aren't doubled. I am yet to see a problem from this practice. I think each pt needs to be evaluated on an individual basis for staffing purposes.

Agreed - I work in a busy CVSICU -- and this is our practice as well. If the patient has a IABP, unstable, multiple lines, gtts, crrt, open chest, crash cart in the room -- well then they are definitely 1:1. But just because they have the IABP they are not. Pre-op balloons are more stable than 75% of the rest of our patients on our unit. And not all post-op's are unstable for more than an hour or two. An IABP is just a piece of technology - look at the patient, not the machine.