Just Wondering: CNA to Patient Ratio on Your Unit

[pRNss808]

To make a long story short: Had a loooong 8 hour shift on a Med Surg unit (42 bed capacity). In our last staff meeting, the manager has decided to decrease the CNA load from the previous 9-12 patients to 6 (Day & Eve)-8 (Night) patients to improve patient care and decrease the fall rates. Nurses still have 5-6 patients regardless of the shift. With that being said, I feel like I'm doing more work and working harder now than before. Don't get me wrong, but I really appreciate my CNAs and the work that they do because they do a lot better than I could ever do it (and faster). My mom is a CNA at the hospital I work at and I hear the things that she has said about her unit (Long Term Care). I seem to be answering more call lights for diaper changes, emptying urinals, refilling water, and etc. The CNAs take their "mandatory" breaks, have time to talk story with other co-workers in the hidden corners of the unit or in the kitchen having a "dinner party" while I'm running around like crazy. I have a pedometer on me and I walked almost 8000 steps on my shift. [*Sigh* There's my ranting for the day and hopefully I can sleep.]

So I was just wondering what your unit's CNA to Patient ratio is and if you have had experiences similar to mine. And what have you done to minimize the situation? Maybe I could make some suggestions with my manager or something.

[macawake, MSN]

I don't work on a medical/surgical floor at the moment. The last one I did work in was a 21-bed surgical ward. The day shift had 5 RNs and 4 CNAs. Evening shift: 4 RNs and 3 CNAs and nightshift: 3 RNs and 2 CNAs. This is in Sweden.

[Worn out nurse]

I work in med surg 12 years RN, RNs get 5-6 patients if you have speciality patients such as pancreas or kidney 1-3 patients and the cnas get anywhere from 9 patients to 26 patients depends on the staffing and budget per shift and those cnas are on med surg. Some hospitals in med surg give cnas 18 to 36 patients on a heavy med surg floor.