nurse to patient ratio laws ohio

U.S.A. Ohio

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  1. Ohio nurse to patient ratio laws. Are they safe?

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      Are you as a nurse or CNA satisfied with the ohio patient ratio laws?
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      Disatisfied with ohio patient ratio laws?
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      Do you feel you work in dangerous conditions due to patient ratio?
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      Do you work in a Long Term Care Facility?
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      Number of patients ususually responsible for?
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      What is your profession? Title?

4 members have participated

How many nurses or family members of loved ones are comfortable with the current laws governing the nurse to patient ratios. Especially in long term care facilities?

Any thoughts or ideas are very appreciated. This is for a research paper and I would appreciate your approval to use your comments in it.

Jules

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.

As a traveler I can say the ratio laws in Ohio aren't the best but aren't the worst either. I work in acute care/neurology and it isn't uncommon for the nurses to have 7 patients at the start of the 7pm shift. Too many in my opinion but so far everything has turned out okay. I heard that new legislation has been passed stating that nurses should set the facilites ratios and these ratios will be federally mandated....can't find any info on this new law. Anyone else heard of this?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

The ratio's for LTC are horrible. I don't know exactly what they are, but when I worked LTC it was awful.

Noney

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I'm a CNA in an LTC Facility ( was, until they terminated me. . . I injured myself taking care of a patient, and missed several days of work )

As a CNA in LTC. . . on 7a-7p shift, I have seen it common to have 12-18 residents, and we're required to give each resident a bed bath, help dress them, feed many, do wet checks every two hours, assist with therapy, monitor rehab dining, as well as paperwork, trash, and worrying about the laundry -- or, lack there of. . . I managed, but, my patients NEVER got the care they deserved, OR needed. It's rather difficult on a day shift to change the depends of 10-12 residents every two hours, in between doing vitals, showers, baths, feeding, bedmaking, other houskeeping duties. . . . We need to lower the CNA Ratio. I've seen where they're trying to make it 1CNA:5Patient during days ( until like 3pm?) and then gradually increase the patient number as the shift goes on. I could EASILY handle 20 residents on night shift, but even 12 on day shift is too much.

I've seen LPNs and RNs with as many as 20, 25 patients on a day shift, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to do treatments, and medications, and paperwork, and answer family questions, and handle admission evaluations. . . many times, that has been passed off to me. . . . I feel sorry for the LPN's and RN's, but. . . as a CNA, I much more relate to our plight.

Staffing regulations in the healthcare industry, especially the LTC field, are in favor of the business, rather than the patient. As a CNA we're trained that we're not just nursing staff, we're cosmotoligsts, and massage therapists, social workers, friends, ministers, and, although our primary function is the physical well being of our residents, that we are also to tend to their EVERY need, from making their hair look pretty, helping with make-up, and listening, when they want to talk. It hurts me to have 15 patients during the day shift, and have one say. . . Brian, do you have a few minutes so we can just talk? And have to say. . . I'm sorry, right now I don't have the time, but I'll come in and sit with you on my lunch, or after my shift is over.

I was injured, transferring a patient. . . I damaged my MCL in my right knee, and had serious trouble walking, let alone doing anything else. I missed four days of work because of this work-related-injury. . . was NOT given a BWC card or anything, so that I could see a physician, and THEN, my employment was terminated. If staffing ratios were reduced, the jobs of the RN, LPN, CNA would be much less stressful, the patients would recieve MUCH better care, and the facilities would recieve fewer call-offs, fewer patient injuries, and fewer staff injuries.

My vote: Thumbs down.

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What is the nurse/pt ratio in OH?

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On the very busy Medical Floor I work on, Day shift is 5pt-1 nurse, evening 6:1, and nights is 10:1. Day and evenings are very busy!!! But I feel that night shift ratio is unsafe! 30 patients and 3 nurses :rolleyes:

I am unsure what the LEGAL nurse patient ratio max is in Ohio...anybody know?

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I"m not sure what the legal limit is for nurses, but in an LTC facility, I've seen LPN's with as many as 25+ patients at a time. CNA/STNA's are legally not supposed to have mor than 15 patients. . . which means they try to keep us under 17 on any given shift. . . . I've worked on days, and. . even 15 is too many.

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I work in LTC in Ohio I dont know the ratio, the floor I work on has 1 nurse to about 32 residents, I am a cna, when I first started at this facility I had all the residents to care for,whew, now there is 2 aides only due to the fact that state fined them.

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I work in LTC in Ohio I dont know the ratio, the floor I work on has 1 nurse to about 32 residents, I am a cna, when I first started at this facility I had all the residents to care for,whew, now there is 2 aides only due to the fact that state fined them.

I totally understand how you feel. The ratio is just ridiculous. . . . We can't properly provide care for all of these patients -- it's difficult on night shift -- but it's even harder on days. I've worked ALZ with up to 18 residents on day shift. The state fines don't mean anything -- the laws need changed, people aren't getting the care they deserve!!!

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I work LTC as a charge nurse. I run two floors, I have 30 residents. I have been told that Ohio says max. is 1 LPN to 50 Res. and 2 CNA for 50. I could not imagine having the care of 50 people! I think that is dangerous and I am not willing to put my license on the line for that.

Shannon

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From what I've learned with the NAR and various research sources, as well as my training as a CNA, we were told, and I have found, that there is a legal maximum of 15 patients per aide -- I'm not sure of what the regulations are regarding LPN/RN's in LTC. . . but I think that 15 as an aide is unsafe -- especially during day shift -- let alone 25 -- I'd NOT take liability for more that 15 patients -- because then my licensure ( as little as it may be ) is also on the line . . . and I'm open to civil action.

I think 50 patients for an LPN OR RN is just absolutely ridiculous -- I don't know if that statistic is current, but, if it is, you should contact the Ohio based groups for the improvement of nursing care and long term facilities, and persuade them to alter that. I've written everybody I could think of, on the state level regarding this, including civil action groups, state representatives from my birth town, my home town, and my residence town. . . as well as my family and friends, the ONHA. . . . I think 15 is too many, let alone 25 for a CNA, and I think, with the stress that I see an LPN dealing with when having 35 residents, I'd say. . . probably no more than 25 to ensure the best possible care -- but, my field is CNA/STNA, so, with activism, I stick to that, and the general improvements relating to the nursing field.

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The facility I work at just took away the attends. THey only get 4 a day and if they run out...oh too bad. :angryfire And they wonder why we have have 4 new skin breakdowns in a month?!?

I am stressed to the limit with 13 on one floor and 17 on the other. Each floor (2 North and 3 North) by themselves is okay. But together they demand all of your time. I pass pills for 5 hours of an 8 hour shift. I hate it. I don't feel like I am giving quality patient care anymore.:stone

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