Nurse to patient ratio in LTC

Published

Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

I am starting a new job next week, it is nights and I was told I would be the only nurse with 3 cna's for 50 residents. The DON said there are only a few morning meds and's of course prn's. This facility is attached to the hospital and there is an RN and LPN that would assist me if I needed help.

This is a very small community that is why the hospital and nursing home are in the same building. The hospital wing has only 12 beds.

Anyways, does this sound like a normal ratio?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it stands up with the most of them.50 to 1 sounds bad,but with 3 cna's and the lpn if needed,its buyable.We usually have only 1 nurse on nights for 58.A much better deal would be 2 nurses,but this is ltc we are talking about:bugeyes:!!Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes....that is about right. I have 48 res with 2 cna's and a boat load of morning meds and accu checks. Thank heaven they finally got a lab to come in and do the blood draws in the am.

The 12 mid night pass is really light.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

wait...was this a 3-11 or 11-7 shift?

3-11..we have 1 RN, 1LPN and 3-4 cna's. 4 is a good day!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

I just started a new job nights 11-7 in a LTC with 75 patients we have 2 nurses and 3 CNAs

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't forget the accu-checks and often people take medicine for GERD at 6 a.m.

Try and get all the facts before you take the job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

i do mostly days and there is 24 patients i am responsible for. 6-7 cna's when we are fully staffed to do the hands on care. about the same ratio for evenings, but nights goes down to 1 lpn for 48 patients and less cna's.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.
Don't forget the accu-checks and often people take medicine for GERD at 6 a.m.

Try and get all the facts before you take the job.

Well, I already accepted the job. I start next week. I am hoping for the best, but I guess you never know. Thank you for the advice!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I worked nights, I had 67 patients and 4 CNA's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well, I already accepted the job. I start next week. I am hoping for the best, but I guess you never know. Thank you for the advice!

I hope it works out for you ok.

I am in a position that is breaking my back, and trying to figure out how the heck to get out after 6 weeks.

I took the first job I applied for - and they offered it to me on the spot. I should have known it was too good to be true. Now I'm in the position of needing to quit to save myself and trying to figure out how to do it - put in notice and try to get through it - hoping they won't expect me to train someone since I have few good things to say about the job - or stick with it until I get another job -which is hard to do when I work M-F - days.

I wish now I had put in several applications and made a choice.

But good luck with your new job. It will probably be fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would love to work under the conditions that you all work. I am an RN working night shift responsible for up to 45 residents (current census is 39). I have one CNA with me during the night. So it is just the two of us which means in addition to all of the nursing duties (meds, prns, charting, blood sugars, treatments, etc.) I also have to act as the second CNA and do rounds every 2 hours with the CNA. It simply amazes me that upper management (in addition to other day staff) are under the impression that everyone sleeps at night and that night staff have all the time in the world to do extra work. If they would actually read the charting they would see what really goes on during the night and find out that we are really busy at night.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work nights 7p-7am and supervise with 62 patients. One other nurse works with me and has 58 patients. We are very fortunate to have 6 terrific CNAs. It can be done. It just takes teamwork and very good aides that are your eyes and ears. Just look out for the full moon. That's when things start to go down the tubes fast. If anything does go wrong, you can almost guarantee that it will happen during your morning med pass when you are accepting call outs and trying to finish everything up for day shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion