New Mexico nurse to patient ratio HELP

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Hello everyone,

So I have been working at a skilled nursing/rehabilitation center for about 6 months now, and I have never had less that 18 patients in a 12 hour shift. I definitely get overwhelmed from time to time. Every experienced nurse I talk to warns me that this case load is very unsafe, and tells me that this facility I work for is not allowed to assign me to this many patients.

I do recall durning my orientation the CEO telling us that even though this facility is a rehab, they are licensed as a nursing home. I never really understood this, considering 80 to 90% of my patients are 2 to 4 days post op. (Absolutely, in no way, nursing home type patients.)

On most days I do have a med tech who can only pass PO meds, (but

I have worked about 2 months with no med tech), and 2 CNAs with an average of 22 patients! Sometimes as much as 28. I usually have a minimum of two IV patients, one to two g tubes, 8 diabetics, 10 requiring subq/Im injections and about 7 pt with wound care/ostomy care on a daily basis. Not to mention charting on 14 of these patients, and fulfilling all other nursing duties such as ordering labs, calling doc, and dealing with situations where my patients make a turn for the worst.

Is this legal in the state of New Mexico?

I am so stressed over my job and I'm literally scared to go to work sometimes.

I have been job hunting for awhile with no luck, and I need to work.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

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I don't know about the legality of that situation, but if I were you I would continue to search for a new job. Your license could be on the line if something does go wrong. You're working in a dangerous situation. Good luck..:unsure:

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You are not going to have ANY nursing job when you lose your license. This is definitely not a safe environment and I wonder how they get away with inspections? A false label of a nursing home I suppose.

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That is how a lot of SNF places are run. Leave for a hospital job

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Boards ofHealth regulate Skilled nursing Facilities in most states

New Mexico regs found here: http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title07/07.009.0002.pdf

Grass is not greener in most hospitals today. 18 patients in sub acute SNF is decent.

7.9.2.51 NURSING STAFF:

In addition to the requirements of Section 7.9.2.50 NMAC, the following

conditions shall be met:

(a)

A skilled nursing facility or facility that offers intermediate and skilled nursing shall

maintain a nursing department minimum staffing level of two and a half (2.5) hours per patient day calculated on a seven (7) day average

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