LTC LPN's...how many patients do you have??

[knottygirl]

Hey,

I was reading some of the posts, and I remember my days as a CNA and the patient-load I had, yes after a while it did get easier, but I'm wondering how many patients you have at an LTC unit. I was reading another post where the lpn had almost 50 patients in a shift.

I know it takes time but how do you manage so many patients? Do they teach time-management skills in school or is it something you have to learn yourself, kinda like learn-as-you-go type of thing? Probably a dumb question, but what if you don't get everything done? Do you stay, or does it go to the nurse relieving you? How stressful is that? How do you deal with it?

Sorry, lot's of questions, but after reading these posts for a while I've wondered about it.

peacers.

[caliotter3]

I worked night shift with 80 residents at one facility, the entire facility of 52 residents elsewhere, and 40 residents at a third facility when I worked at these particular places. I did not learn time management skills in nursing school because they were not taught. Things not done were passed on to the next shift. You can't stay over for overtime unless okayed by a supervisor so you can draw overtime pay. That rarely happens unless there are extenuating circumstances.

[knottygirl]

I worked night shift with 80 residents at one facility, the entire facility of 52 residents elsewhere, and 40 residents at a third facility when I worked at these particular places. I did not learn time management skills in nursing school because they were not taught. Things not done were passed on to the next shift. You can't stay over for overtime unless okayed by a supervisor so you can draw overtime pay. That rarely happens unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Get outta here! 80 residents? 52? Now it seems to me that this would go against the idea of patient care. How can you really care if you have so many patients (and I mean that in a non literal way).

So do you see this as a recession thing? Meaning, are the LTC trying to squeeze as much production out of a smaller amount of nurses or has it just always been that way? That just really seems to go against the philosophy of patient care to me.

So if everyone is passing the buck does anything get done?

crazy.

[caliotter3]

We are talking 20 years ago. LTC facilities have never been keen on overstaffing. And we weren't even talking about nursing assistants.

[knottygirl]

We are talking 20 years ago. LTC facilities have never been keen on overstaffing. And we weren't even talking about nursing assistants.

:uhoh3:wowsers. I remember being a CNA and who all the CNA's would talk about certain nurses saying they're lazy etc etc and that no one would actually help the nurses if they needed it. I'm not sure what their load was but if it was anything like that I could see why they appeared "lazy" to us when we needed help.

[amazing09]

30 patients....too many esp on the 3-11 where it's always busy

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When I worked night shift in a nursing home as an LVN, I had 70 residents. I admit that I cut corners and took shortcuts in order to get it all done in a timely fashion.

[knottygirl]

@amazing09...yeah the 3-11 shift is pretty busy, there really isn't any downtime. It's the shift I always worked as a CNA. Getting people out of bed from naps and dressed, taking them to the dining room, then after dinner getting residents to activities and then to bed, it's very time consuming.

@thecommuter....see that's my point. I'm sure corners are cut each day, each shift. How do they expect the level of care to be up to par if population is an issue. Then again if they hire more nurses perhaps the pay will go down? Doesn't seem to make sense either way.

[heathert_kc]

At my current facility, which is the only ltc I have worked at as an LPN, I have 16 residents (day and evening shift)32 at night under my care and I pass my own pills. Overall our resident aren't too heavy, no more than two g-tubes and/or one IV, no trachs, less than four diabetics. On a rare occassion that we are short a nurse on day or evening I may have a med aide instead then I have 32 resident and do just the treatments. There are three CNAs and a bath aide (day/evening) and two CNAs at night. I feel really blessed to be at this facility; it's really nice and they take care of us.

Generally we are able to complete all assigned tasks, but sometimes due to residents leaving the facility with family or waiting on delivery of meds/drsg, or whatever they don't finish we do it pass on. It usually isn't too much and as long as no one takes advantage of the fact that the other shift will do it, no one gets up set about it.

I think that any job, especially nursing, takes time management and it can be tough when you're new. In the event of not having something major completed I do stay over to get the essential parts done; the only example I can think of is a new admissions.

[kat7ap]

My first job in LTC I had 20 residents on 2-10 shift. I did all the meds and treatments. Your ratio will go way up when you have a med aide under you. Probably between 30-40.

[knottygirl]

My first job in LTC I had 20 residents on 2-10 shift. I did all the meds and treatments. Your ratio will go way up when you have a med aide under you. Probably between 30-40.

a med aide is a CNA with med certifications correct?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

a med aide is a CNA with med certifications correct?

Yes, this is correct.