Nurse to Patient Ratio in a SNF

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Hello everyone,

I have been employed with a SNF/LTC Facility in Hernando, Florida for about 2 months now. I have been a nurse for 2 years. I work the 11-7 shift where the only supervisor on is me and three other nurses. Well, sometimes 3, sometimes 2 other nurses. The reason I am writing this post is because I want to know what the laws are in Florida for Nurse to Patient Ratio. We are a SNF/LTC with 120 patients. When there are 4 nurses on, that is 30 patients a piece. I am good with that. But, when a nurse calls out, the patient load for my unit turns into 60 patients to 1 nurse. They look at it as well you have 3 nurse on at night (11-7) that's 40 patients a piece. But the other 2 nurses do not come to my unit to help at all. So, I am left to care for 60 patients on my own. I have done up to 40 pts on my own. Never 60. What I want to know is: #1 - Is this legal? #2 - Can I refuse the assignment and what will happen if I do?

This is no where near safe, nor could this be legal. How can I provide the best possible care to my patients if I have to care for 60 pts on my own. About half my patients are Alzheimer pts. I can not afford to quit my job. Can someone please help me out with this. Any advise will do. Thanks guys! :unsure:

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It is not to care for 60 patients. I would never subject myself to such unsafe practices. By all means, let it be know that you do not agree with the staffing issues in writing. Just in case...

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Specializes in leadership, corrections.

I agree with goldenmom. Always cover yourself. I worked prn in a SNF and we the nurses had 20 pts a piece. When we started having frequent call outs, we started making copies of the assignment and passing it up to the DON and administration in writing. We also pointed out that the stateboard of nursing has no problems revoking licenses too. After 2 letters we had a prn pool and the nurses went back down to 18-20 pts. I always back the nurses on my team and stand as one.

Let us know how it turns out.

Cheers

Lexi

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Geez... when I worked in LTC/SNF it was a bad shift if you had 14 skilled patients and one nurse. Normally the max per nurse on our skilled floor was 10.

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Most states do not have a nurse-patient ratio laws. That does not mean it is right. You need to voice your concerns and perhaps start looking for a new job ASAP.

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Terrible, those concerns should be brought up during in-service meetings; sure enough you're not the only person that notices that problem, and everyone obviously don't want to lose their license. This problem is very common among care facilities. It is true that you need to protect your license, may it be hand-written so that they know that the employees are concerned.

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Five patients per RN in rehabilitation and skilled nursing units?

'To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals, and for other purposes' (is the exact language). If 'other purposes' includes skilled units in SNFs, that would be interesting to see unfold.

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I couldn't imagine having 60 patients... sounds extremely unsafe and unfair for the patients. I would document like crazy to cover yourself.

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I know how you feel. Believe me.

I work in Neurology. 3 of us work on 60 patients at day and two at night. Some 30 of those 60 are really bad and in most cases had bad strokes and can't move. I work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We work 12 hours shifts.

12/24;12/48.

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