Published
We rate our acuity but our staffing is based on # of pts not the units acuity. Of course that's not to say that I will get all high or low acuity pts when the CN makes out the assignment. You should have a variety of low/med/high pts. Do you have a tool that you use to rate your pts acuity and know how it's used?
Five pts seems like a lot for day shift on a tele floor, I usually have 5 on nights. Sounds like your unit has changed your pt ratios, not uncommon in this economy and in the hospital. You may want to try home health or mother-baby for a less stressful environment?
I work on a Med/Surge floor that has tele and also serves as a stroke unit. We usually have 6 patients on days, sometimes 7. I used to be overwhelmed, but I worked into handling that many without too big of a problem. You have to have faith in yourself and your abilites. Learn from those you work with that are doing a good job. I don't see any of us getting fewer patients . . . at least for the foreseeable future!
I work on a Med/Surge floor that has tele and also serves as a stroke unit. We usually have 6 patients on days, sometimes 7. I used to be overwhelmed, but I worked into handling that many without too big of a problem. You have to have faith in yourself and your abilites. Learn from those you work with that are doing a good job. I don't see any of us getting fewer patients . . . at least for the foreseeable future!
I think 7 patient's is unsafe. It leaves barely an hour per patient. What if they actually need their nurse? And if they don't...what are they doing in a hospital?
I work night shift at an acute rehab hospital and the number of patients that I receive depends upon the census for that day.
If census if low, I'll have 6 to 8 patients. If census is up, I'll have anywhere from 9 to 11 patients. With crappy ratios like this, I actually hope and pray that my patients go to sleep very soon after their night assessments and HS med pass.
erin01
158 Posts
I work in a busy tele floor now on days and been here over 1 year. I am per diem after maternity leave. I am starting to think I should quit. They have stopped using acuity for patients and it feels in safe . I feel very overwhelmed and scared I may make an error. I typically have 5 PTA of all acuity and it feels so wrong. Is this just nursing? Or my floor? Or my management ???