nurse to patient ratio

[Michellex1013]

I have heard that California has a law that limits the number of patients a nurse can have. Can someone tell me the specifics about this law or where I can find details about it?

Michelle

[TazziRN, RN]

You can google it.

MedSurg: 5 pts to 1 nurse

Tele: 2-4:1

ICU: 1-2:1

[msdobson]

Of course, the way we do math here in California, that equals out to this ratio,

25:1

[once you cross-cancel and carry the one, that is...]

[Michellex1013]

Hi Michael,

Do you want to go into detail about that 25:1? I'm in Nevada right now and a minimum of 8 patients in the norm. I don't like it here and can't wait for this contract to finish.

Thanks,

Michelle

[pickledpepperRN]

Here are som links with lots of information:

http://www.calnurses.org/nursing-practice/ratios/ratios_index.html

Text of the regulations. Kind of hard to read.- http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/pubnotice/NTPR/R-37-01_Regulation_Text.pdf

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/NTP/default.htm

[RNinSoCal]

The ratios are true in California for hospitals, but not for nursing homes and subacute care centers. I

f you want to work in California look for union hospitals. My hospital is contracted with CNA and there are consequences for going over the ratio. We are 5:1 on med/surg and how we deal with going over ratio is filing a "No break no lunch" form. The hospital has to pay us each 2 hours of penalty pay for getting no break/no lunch due to being over ratio. It costs the same for the hospital as having 1 or 2 more nurses on shift depending on the census. Needless to say, we are rarely over ratio on my unit.

In a non-union hospital there are no gaurantees on ratios. I used to work for a non-union hospital in Los Angeles as recently as 2005 and the "ratio" was 5 patients of my own plus covering for up to 3 patients with an LVN. That means I really had 8 patients to chart on, take orders on, administer IV medications, update careplans on and speak to family members about.

California is a great place to work if you find the right hospital. You really can't beat the pay.

Best of luck.

[Michellex1013]

wow, what does a LVN do on that unit? I was an LPN for three years before I was a RN. I did everything except connect blood tubing to the IV, give IV pushes, the admit assessment, or the careplan page. I would do the admit assessment but it was up to the RN if she wanted to do it again. I assessed my group of patients, called the MDs as needed, did patient teaching, spoke with the family, took off orders, charted, ect. Basically we all, RN, LPN, CNA did what was allowed by a law.

Michelle

What can't/can LVNS do under California law?

[msdobson]

wow, what does a LVN do in California then?

Mostly we play tennis.

[pickledpepperRN]

I know of one hospital where an LVN is the IV nurse!

She will start a difficult IV.

When there is no IV to be started the shift supervisor may have her help on the busiest unit.

I think it is great to have an extra nurse. She likes it because she is appreciated for her skills and is there when really needed. Plus she only has to chart what she did.

Here is a California LVN (joking)

[Michellex1013]

I edited my comment to reflect more on my feeling of that one sentence. Thanks Michael and Spacenurse for pointing out my error of saying California when I meant that unit only.

Michelle

[ritaPHIL]

can someone tell me what is the nurse:patient ratio in florida?

rita

[ritaPHIL]

can someone tell tell the nurse-patient ratio in florida?

rita