pt/nurse ratio?

emsboss · May 20, 2005

Thanx for the responses...SORRY it took so long to answer... :uhoh3: Administration is "aware" of the problem...we have had 3 nurses resign in the last week...we are probably going to have to shut down one of our units (8 beds). This will help the nurse/patient ratio...For a while:rolleyes: . I can only hope things get better.

epiphany · Jul 10, 2005

What are the pt/nurse ratios at you facilities? I am a recent grad in MICU/SICU and feel like I have been "thrown to the wolves.":o I have been having three critical patients a night, actual "ICU" pts, vents...multiple gtts, ventrics ect. Is this the norm nation wide, or are we just being hung out to dry?

Hi emsboss:

I have also been offered a position at the MICU/SICU where I am externing, while waiting to take my nclex. They often give nurses 3 pts because of the staff shortage, and I am concerned. Here's a study I found about the pt. ratio, about night shifts.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11271096&dopt=Abstract

goodluck to you.

Sunnibee · Jul 11, 2005

Three patients is the standard for step-down in CA, and you generally have a teletech/unit clerk and CNA to help. I sometimes take three patients if we have some huge (generally holiday-related) crunch....but I think any critical care nurse who finds her/himself expected to do so needs to grab a new job. When you are interviewing, ask good questions, and look at the assignment board in the unit on your tour. I got one shift on agency at a local hospital that goes to three patients apiece at 3 pm and I won't ever go back. If they don't care about your patient's quality of life they sure won't care about yours. Vote with your feet, and tell the MD's why you found a safe job...if enough do so then the bad situation will have to change.

babynursewannab · Jul 11, 2005

We occasionally get triples on our unit. But, BOY, do butts get chewed out when it happens. We have a staffing issue right now, so it is only preventable if we have float coverage or the director of critical care comes in to help (which she does...she's awesome). But sometimes that isn't enough. The norm is 2:1 standard or 1:1 critical-critical.

sway · Jul 12, 2005

Vote with your feet, and tell the MD's

Wow, what a great idea, I wish I had thought of it. I think that next time I'm forced to take a triple that I feel is unsafe, I'm going to call the involved MDs and tell them that I think their patients are being staffed unsafely. I don't know about you all, but where I work doing this would probably create some big (and much needed) waves!

Thanks!

TexasCCRN · Jul 12, 2005

This seems to be the norm lately where I am as well. Not a new grad though and it stresses me out...i feel for you. I'd start looking for a new job!

Good luck