No Patient To Staff Ratio In State of Indiana

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I would like to see in the State of Indiana a law regarding Nurse to patient ratio in Nursing homes and Hospitals. I work in a Nursing home on a hall with approximately 34 patients acute care such as trachs, gtubes, Iv's, and catheters. The other day I received a written warning for failing to get my documentation done. Im so frustrated with state guidelines if it's not documented it's not done. Forget if you actually did the job or not, just make sure that it's documented. With out there being a law for nurse/patient ratio work places can have you taking care of 50 patients if they deem it necessary. So starting the New Year off in 2015 IM going to start researching what I can do to change this. For the safety of my patients and my License.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

If staffing is insufficient to provide needed care i suggest trying to plan with all nursing staff to explain this to your management.

To start tell the nurse in charge or the director if you are charge nurse that in your nursing judgment your assignment is unsafe. Explain that you cannot provide needed care and documentation.

Keep a diary with the date, time, location, who you told, and a direct quote of what was said.

A letter signed by all or most nursing staff stating the facts can be the next action.

At minimum your diary can prove you notified management that you could not do all that was asked.

Bless you for caring. I wish we had better mandator safe staffing for all facilities.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

As a fellow Indiana nurse, I definitely support you!

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What is the typical ratio in a hospital for Indiana? I'm in California and it is 5:1.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
What is the typical ratio in a hospital for Indiana? I'm in California and it is 5:1.
California is the only state in the union with legally mandated nurse/patient ratios in hospitals. The other 49 states have no legally mandated nurse/patient ratios whatsoever.
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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.
What is the typical ratio in a hospital for Indiana? I'm in California and it is 5:1.

It's management wants it to be. When I was med/surg I had 5 & 6 patients, med/surg nurses on other floors could have 7 or more patients. Now I'm in the ICU and we frequently get triples.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

http://theconsumervoice.org/uploads/files/issues/Harrington-state-staffing-table-2010.pdf

Nursing home staffing legislation by state.

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Having a mandated legal limit on the patient to nurse ratio is important. I really hope every state follow what California did, and mandate these laws.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

There are two bills for national nurse-to-patient ratios in acute care hospitals. One is from the senate, and one from the House of Representatives.

i truly believe that in most nurses along with other citizens who want safge staffing write or call their members of Congreaa they can be passed.

National Campaign for Safe RN-to-Patient Staffing Ratios | National Nurses United

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

I just love that.

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