Nurse to Couplet Ratio?????

kastas, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2003

Ditto with the above post as far as the shift passing at just the right speed. It's rare for us to have to take more than 5 but it can happen. I sometimes wish the charge would take patients. But, I know as soon as she does that will be the day I am doing labor and I have a stat c/s and she won't be available to help. I kinda like having her free.

Buggs · Nov 10, 2003

Unfortunately there is no law in NY regarding nurse-pt ratio numbers. On our 16 bed LDRP wing the typical assignment is 6-7 couplets, if you only have 4, you ususally have a cytotec pt that is awaiting induction, or an early labor. The techs don't do pt care, just stock and do paperwork if have time. On the 18 bed c\s, gyn/AP wing our assignments are usually5 "grown-ups", some being sick gyns (if you have a lady parts you can be put on this wing as the goal of the hospital is to keep those beds full), AP's or C/s on Mag we aren't supposed to bolus mag on the unit but always have those exceptions..Our gyn's may be 109 yrs old with bed alarms, sundowners, stage 3 or 4 CA, you name it, central lines, NG's,...and don't forget to find time to help the other moms breastfeed. We also have the babies of the c/s pts. We have a secretary OR a tech only maybe 25% of the time. They never do patient care, although if it's your lucky day a couple times a month someone may do vitals, but only once, they don't do them at second rounds. If I sound frustrated, I am. All our experienced nurses have done their best to get out of the mess. Our new nurse manager and her superior don't have any OB experience and want the place to fit into some mold of what they think a hospital unit should be. I pray on the way to work, and give thanks on my way home. Hope you never have to work under these conditions. I can't believe this is the USA!

aimeeRN · Nov 10, 2003

omg!!!!!! this sounds terrible. I thought I had it bad. yes it is pretty sad that this is the usa. hope you find work elsewhere. thanks for the reply. bye

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 10, 2003

I usually have 3 couplets, 4 max. When I have only 1 couplet, I usually have a couple of GYN post-ops, or with 2 couplets I'll have one post-op. Compared with my usual patient load on med/surg, I can't complain.

Buggs · Nov 11, 2003

mjlrn97, I want to work where you do. How come your hospital can support staffing like that and not go under, and mine can't? Maybe my management is to blame. Imagine that! I think I want to move to your town. If anyone from your board of directors wants a challenge, maybe they could fix us up. We now are being mandated to attend a team building class. They just don't get it. We need more players, and less coaches.

aimeeRN · Nov 11, 2003

You hit the nail on the head....We need more players and less coaches.....thats so true.

StrongRN · Nov 11, 2003

Our Mother/Baby ratio is 4-5/1 optimally speaking they prefer 4:1 but with staffing the way it is now a days 5 or 6 would not be unheard of but would also be rare.