Normal Pt Ratios - ack!

NYNurse07 · Oct 16, 2007

NYNurse07 writes........

Its taken me a little bit to get back on to this site, because I have been so depressed about this job.

Thank you all very much. The kind words are not only a relieve but kinder than you can imagine.

I am very close with my graduating class and so far I am the only person in my class that has had such a high patient ratio.

I think my biggest problem was being exhausted everyday I was going in because I lacked the sleep I needed to feel rested before going in for another shift.

I don't know what I want to do. It's like falling off the horse. some people get right back on, some people it takes awhile for them to do it again and others never get back on the horse.

I was never prepared to be on my own with that many acutely ill patients not knowing certain things that takes a new grad to learn and understand and get the hang of.

Meanwhile ... I hope the next hospital can be understanding. I don't know if I can do it right away, this has been sucha terrible experience.

Thanks all for all the kind words.

blueiwahine · Oct 19, 2007

HELP!
So, I am a new grad - passed the NCLEX and just had my first job interview at a hospital I thought I really wanted to work at - well, I think I still do but - It is only 1 block from my house and has a great reputation - BUT - the recruiter today told me that the nurse-pt. ratio on the floor (it's med-surg) is 1:8, or even 1:9!!! Is that even legal? And even if it's legal, is it safe? In all of nursing school, I have never seen a nurse with that many patients - how is this possible? I am VERY nervous about working in a hospital setting, but I really want to do this and I thought this would be a great place to work -
Should I not take this job? (am I crazy to even consider it?)
HELP!

OMG! Our pt ratio at the LTACH unit I work is 5-6...5 is usually tolerable...but 6 is pushing it...due to fact that most acuity is high....same at the Oncology/Med-Surg unit I work...I definitely would look elsewhere for a job...being a new grad that would want to push you over the edge...I've been nursing a yr and there's no way I could handle that many pts safely.