Number of patients you care for?

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Being an RN in CA, we are fortunate we have nurse-patient ratios. I wonder how other RNs in other states handle their patient load, and what number patients they have to care for? Any one care to share what unit you work for and the average number of patients you are assigned to care for a shift??

Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

I work hospice in the field overnight for emergency visits for uncontrolled symptoms, deaths, admissions, med delivery etc. so I never know. I've had no calls up to 8 or 9. Depends on what the call is and how long a visit takes; but I love it never know what the night will bring.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Med/surg. Depends on what the acuity and little calculator tells the supervisor.

Lots of wiggle room with staffing, when someone who doesn't know anything about the pts on the floor, decide how much staff is needed.

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Ususally around 8, but I can get up to 16. And no, this isn't LTC. lol

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

med/surg Tele unit.

Patient ratio. 1:4 on days and 1:5 on nights, sometimes 1:6.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical/Addiction/Mental Health.
I work ortho. We have a RN to pt ratio of 5:1. On an average shift I have 3 admits and discharges. So usually a total of 8 pts a shift. Some days more, some less.

I think 4:1 would be ideal for my floor. It is just down right dangerous to have 5 fresh post ops. The pts do not receive a level of care that I feel is safe. Management says that we would not be profitable if they staffed us 4:1. To make matters worse the CNAs are 15:1.

You just have to prioritize and then repriortize and realize that it will not kill a pt not to get a bed bath or linen changes today.

I work Ortho Med/Surg too. Our ratio is also 5:1. However, acuity is not taken into consideration for staffing. I can have three fresh post-ops requiring vitals q1h for the first 8 hours, assessments q4h for the first 24 hours, and I&O's q2 for the first 24 hours. Of course there are always the AM admits about 45 minutes before the end of the shift. Our facility staffs based upon numbers, not acuity. So, it is often times a challenge.

I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB...

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

We just went back down to 7:1 from 8:1. Things change fast around here. I'm in med/surg.

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Specializes in ICU.

1:3 on days and 1:3-4 on nights on my pediatric surgical floor. We take care of high acuity kiddos, some that most hospitals would have in a PICU. I LOVE my job! :heartbeat

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I work on a Med-Surg/Bariatric unit.

On day shift nurse has 4 patients (on a good day) and 5 on a busy day.

Night shift nurses have 6 patients (on a good day) and 7 on a busy day.

We also have no PCT/CNA whatever you call them. The nurse is responsible for EVERYTHING patient care wise.

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I work in LTAC

Vent patients-4 (I rarely get lucky enough to get these guys)

Med-surg-5-6 (usually 6) and I am lucky to have one walkie-talkie in the group. Usually at least four of them are total care. My facility is strange-many times day shift will have more pts. than nights? I've seen them take up to 7-8 which is ridiculous considering the acuity.

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Specializes in NICU.

When I was in Peds it was 4 patients, 6 if I had a CNA to help me (and help only me, not other nurses).

In NICU it's usually 2 or 3, sometimes only 1 patient.

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Specializes in cardiac.

Typically 1:4 on my PCU, occassionally 1:5. After reading most of these posts, my head hurts! We all must be crazy!

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Specializes in Psych.

I work in a Psych Crisis Stabilization Hospital days are generally 1:7-8 and nights are 1:7-15 just depends on staffing.

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