New onset DKA - PICU

[Kricole]

To my PICU nurses out there:

What are your nurse to patient ratios for a new-admit, new-onset DKA? 

Ex: blood glucose >1000, pH <6.5, bicarb undetectable; altered mental status —> potassium <1.5; Mg <1.0 despite 2-bag system and repletions.

Would you have other patients with this patient and, if so, how many?

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Probably depends on the other patient.

Most PICUs are 2 patients to 1 nurse, if the patient is super sick, intubated, on pressors, multilple antibiotics, meds, you could be 1:1

However with a pH of 6.5 your patient is likely dead.

[Kricole]

She landed on her feet - very much alive - despite her pH and lyte levels. Definitely one heck of a shift.

Thanks for the info r/t how your unit trends in terms of nurse/patient ratios. 

[ETCO2_, BSN, RN]

In my PICU that patient would be a 2:1 unless they were on pressors or about to go on CRRT or ECMO. I hate how they staff here though. A new DKA patient can be so time consuming!