Northern Nj Community Hospitals (low Census?)

to all,

Just wanna ask how many of you that work in northern NJ community hospitals are experiencing a really low census these past few months? I work in a few hospitals in NJ, one of them being Mountainside ICU. the overall census has dropped considerably these past few months leaving the staff morale low and having nurses being given PTO or no pay. staffing has also been affected I guess since the hospital has been sold to merit healthcare this past June, with ICU nurse/patient ratio AVERAGE 3:1 (even with vents) sometimes leaving no room for codes beds/angioplasty beds. Pt.s would have to be held in ER at times till next shift NOT because there are no rooms available but the nurse/pt ratio is already maxxed 3:1 for ICU. Dont even get me started with the ratios in the floors!!. Im not the type to complain alot but when I feel my environment has changed for the worse I have got to say something, even if it falls on deaf ears I guess I need to vent. Staffing for acuity has been out the door for awhile but with the practice of having a goal to staff 3:1 just for saving some cash is beyond me. the last time I worked I had 3 pt's with two being vents, on drips transfusing blood and I still got the 3rd as my admission because why? everyone already had 3 each. Just to give an example on the math that night they staffed MICU (CCU closed, we combined units) of 11 pts with 5 vents with 4 ICU nurses.. 4!!.. anywho, I hope this passes soon or I may be dropping moutainside from my list of jobs.

Blah!!!:stone