Night Shift LTC Ratios

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

This question is for any nurse who has ever worked night shift in a nursing home. How many patients did you have?

I was hired today for a night shift/NOC charge nurse position where I'll have about 60 patients during the 10pm to 6am shift. There will be a total of 2 nurses in the entire building (myself with another LVN). The other LVN will have 60 patients of her own to care for. At least the pay is competitive at $23 hourly.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

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Yes that is about right.But really is too many patients to handle safely. I had 67 patients last place I worked, which was two units ( Alz/dementia) of about 33 or 34 patient each. We had a one supervisor and another nurse on the first floor , also with almost 67 people, that floor had one whole unit of 33 as acute care, plus one unit of skilled care. The supervisor was usually on that floor all night helping that poor nurse down there- really very unsafe.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

that sounds like the norm. not bad unless someone falls, gets sick, fights, elopes, or passes.:o i work 6p to 6a and have 58 pts and this includes the locked unit. the other nurse at noc has 55 but has some folks on bolus feedings.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

In one place I worked, the 11-7 nurse had 60 people on the long term floor, 40 on the dementia unit, but 2 nurses on the short term sub acute unit of 40.

Where I am now, there is one nurse on each unit for our night shifts....47 long term, 42 dementia, and at the moment 33 on the short term unit.

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Specializes in med/surg.

The LTC where I externed had 1 RN & 3 CNAs for the NOC shift caring for 60 plus residents, depending on how full they were. I think that's way too many people to care for safely.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
This question is for any nurse who has ever worked night shift in a nursing home. How many patients did you have?

Either a) 2 LPNS, 3-4 CNAs for 90 residents, or 1 LPN, 1 CMA, 3-4 CNAs for the same people. It got ugly as hell at 5 am when the residents started waking up and getting on call lights. Prime conditions for an undiscovered fall.

I was hired today for a night shift/NOC charge nurse position where I'll have about 60 patients during the 10pm to 6am shift. There will be a total of 2 nurses in the entire building (myself with another LVN). The other LVN will have 60 patients of her own to care for. At least the pay is competitive at $23 hourly.

$23.00 an hour "competitive..." Where I'm from, $23.00 an hour is downright princely for a nurse. Many places start nurses out at $13-14 an hour. No benefits either. I wonder why this state regularly inhabits the bottom 5 for nurse/patient ratios. Any theories on this???

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That's good, actually. My place was 40, and I know of others of 60.

How many aides?

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

wow, that is a high ratio, usually when i work nights its me and 40 residents, its really quiet though!!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
That's good, actually. My place was 40, and I know of others of 60.

How many aides?

I was told that there's 1 aide for every 20 residents on nights at this particular facility.

$23.00 an hour "competitive..." Where I'm from, $23.00 an hour is downright princely for a nurse.
Yes, I would say $23 hourly is decent pay for an LVN. Some RNs in this area don't even get paid $23 until they accrue several years of experience.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Call Center RN.

Our facility is 60 residents, 3 CNA's, and 2 nurses. goes smoothly until something happens. :)

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