Med/Surg 6:1? Thought the ratio was 5:1

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My recruiter told me about Los Robles in Thousand Oaks, CA and she said the ratio was 6:1 at night. That would be nice compared to what I have now except she told me the ratio for a CNA is 1:29 at night and 1:15 during the day. Can't expect much to get done on either shift. I thought the ratio for med/surg was 5:1 set by state law? Is their some clause that allows this? I couldn't get the postion anyways as there was 35 applicants within hours and they weren't taking anymore. I have heard different things for this hospital. Any thoughts for future reference. I do know they are having financial difficulties along with some other near hospital.

Thanks

Michelle

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Specializes in telemetry.

no, for med-surg it's 6:1, tele is 5:1, some places it's even 4:1.

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Ratios change again in January, 2008.

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Ratios are currently 5:1 for tele and will change to 4:1 in January. The ER has a 4:1 ratio and that will be unchanged.

And ratios are not in writing for CNAs, they are not licensed in California. The ratios are in effect for RNs.

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Our med/surg floor is 5:1 because we admit patients who need monitoring and we monitor for 24 hours post op. It changes to 4:1 in January.

steph

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

The ratio law is for RNs....I do not believe that it applies to CNAs.

To my knowledge, there is no rule dictating that there is even a CNA on the floor. Many of us work without them.

One of the initial controversies regarding the ratio law, is that by requiring set ratios, hospitals might cut back on ancillary staff such as aides, transport, phlebotomy, respiratory support, etc.

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Med/surg has been 1:5 since 1-1-2005.

Ratio basics by unit: http://www.calnurses.org/assets/pdf/ratios/ratios_basics_unit_0704.pdf

Additional staffing must be added for patient acuity as assessed by the direct care RN. This includes LVNs, CNAs, clerks, and monitor observers.

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Med/surg has been 1:5 since 1-1-2005.

Ratio basics by unit: http://www.calnurses.org/assets/pdf/ratios/ratios_basics_unit_0704.pdf

Additional staffing must be added for patient acuity as assessed by the direct care RN. This includes LVNs, CNAs, clerks, and monitor observers.

Which is what I thought . . . . we are a med/surg floor. 5:1 ratio.

I knew you'd get here sooner or later with the right info and links! Thanks!

steph

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Ratios are currently 5:1 for tele and will change to 4:1 in January. The ER has a 4:1 ratio and that will be unchanged.

And ratios are not in writing for CNAs, they are not licensed in California. The ratios are in effect for RNs.

This is good to know, I sometimes work in Tele and the current ratio in our hospital is 8:1 ( with a team). On this change in January 2008, will this be a team such as 4:1 ratio in tele but you still have your LVN and CNA? Or it would just be an RN working for all these 4 patients?

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This is good to know, I sometimes work in Tele and the current ratio in our hospital is 8:1 ( with a team). On this change in January 2008, will this be a team such as 4:1 ratio in tele but you still have your LVN and CNA? Or it would just be an RN working for all these 4 patients?

This ratio law is just in California.

Each hospital will be different in regards to CNA's. We had CNA's and ward clerks until recently. Then a new CEO and DON came in . . . . :o

steph

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This ratio law is just in California.

Each hospital will be different in regards to CNA's. We had CNA's and ward clerks until recently. Then a new CEO and DON came in . . . . :o

steph

I work in California...and your right...sometimes it all depends on the CEO and DON...I kinda noticed that they will try their best to work around the nurse-patient ratio in order to save money...Like sometimes we would be given 10:1 (team) and when questioned they have tons of already-well scripted answers to get you to accept the assignment...and of course the statement "you can get written up if you refuse".

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I work in California...and your right...sometimes it all depends on the CEO and DON...I kinda noticed that they will try their best to work around the nurse-patient ratio in order to save money...Like sometimes we would be given 10:1 (team) and when questioned they have tons of already-well scripted answers to get you to accept the assignment...and of course the statement "you can get written up if you refuse".

I work in So Cal and while yes, one can definetely and most probably will get written up for refusing to accept an assignment, we can document theat assignment accepted despite protest for safety/legal reasons. Just document or fill those incident reports out every time. You may get fired but you won't lose your license. I wish our nurses would unionize but it is small and there is not enough regular staff(mostly travelers and registry)so no one willing to say anything because they don't know who will turn them in!

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