Is a 3:1 patient ratio safe for LVAD patients?

[iLOVEbees]

My facility just started getting LVAD patients. We are an LTAC and my unit is an ICU. When the pt first came, he was 1:1 because some nurses were new to LVADs. Now it's 2:1 which is fine to me. Now the facility (which is notorious for loading nurses with the maximum and then some) is trying to make it 3:1 for LVAD patients. This does not seem safe to me. What is the ratio for LVAD pts in your experience? Our ICU has no techs and no unit clerk - we do everything. Frequently it's just two nurses in the unit. They would want to give us 6 patients for these 2 nurses. Do you think this is safe for LVAD patients? I want to see what others' experiences are before I state my concerns.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Depends on the type of device and the type of patient. I have many years experience at many VAD centers in ICU and I have only ever seen 1:3 used with VERY stable pts awaiting transfer to the floor. As a rule it's 1:2 maximum- looks can be deceiving and they can go downhill fast. 3 unwell VAD patients is NOT safe for 1 nurse.