Nurse patient ratio

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What is the nurse patient ratio on your floor? I am a new grad getting ready to go off orientation, and am struggling a bit getting my time management together. I work nights and on average we have 6 patients, but we have 7 at times, and Im told even 8 on rare instances. I have had 6 before but didnt do well with it, but can manage 5 no problem. Just wondering what everyone else is going through. Im a bit excited about being on my own (mainly because my orientation schedule blew.) But at the same time, I am freaking out! Can I really do this on my own?????

I am still staying awake thinking about what I did (or didn't do). and stressing way to much over every little thing. But I know I take good care of my patients. I knew this job would be stressful, but this is ridiculous!

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Specializes in ICU, Hospice.

It gets easier with time and knowledge. You will be able to handle 6 patients...look how many RN's do! Seven is getting heavy, but when things are shorthanded this occasionally happens. Eight is crazy, esp as a new RN and I would refuse an eighth pt as unsafe nursing practice.

Be humble, ask established RN's how they organize their time and for any other suggestions they have.

Best wishes on finally getting out of orientation...didn't care much for that part either. :heartbeat

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Specializes in physician office, ortho/neuro.

I feel your worries. I too am a new nurse and work nights. Last night I had 8 patients and it was not a good night. All ortho patients that need assist with getting up and are slow. Pain issues too. But you know what---I made it through. Yes I, got out late, but the care given was safe. It is not easy, but each day you learn something new. I also have great resources on my floor. I usually work with an RN with 10 years exp. Good luck to you.:nurse:

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I work on a cardiac floor - we have 4 patients per nurse on days/evenings. On nights each nurse has 6 patients.

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I work days on a cardiac stepdown unit. We take either 4 or 5 patients. Usually 4, but it just depends on staffing. Sometimes we go through a slump and have to take 5 for awhile, othertimes we go weeks taking 4. It is the same on nights.

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On our peds med-surg floor, we have 3 - 4 pts each. I think I would die if I had to take 5 or more kids.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Most nights our ortho/neuro floor has 5-7 patients to start plus any admits...I've seen it as high as 9 per nurse, and 18 Per cna....

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Specializes in L&D.

I'm in an adult ICU and we have 1 or 2 patients each depending on acuity.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I work in the ICU and we have 3 patients MAX, unless we have some acuity or vents then we bring in additional staff and may be 1:1 or 2:1.

I honestly dont think I could be a med surge nurse and have 6+ pts, I dont think I could even do a proper med pass or assessment.

The other night ICU pts were stable and Med Surge was busy so they called me out to help with admissions. It took me about 45 min to do the admission while another MS nurse did her admission in about 15 min.

She was teasing me asking if I counted and documented all the moles on their body....

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first of all i am sooo sorry to intrude and apoligize for doing so in advance...i just have a nurse/ratio crises at work also and need an answer...i thought if you all were already discussing and answering maybe you could help..

i work in a LTC facility, does anyone know if there is a "legal" pt/res ratio?? two nights last week, night nurses came into a shirt at 5pm with no help for the floor...1 nurse, 3 CNA 4 halls with approx. 75 pts. 12 hr shift, not only near immpossible and unsafe but is it even legal??...i'm so afraid it will happen to me...i think i would run...

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Specializes in LTC.

idk but i always thought LTC should have no more than 30 residents to a nurse, i went straight LTC i was trained by an agency nurse for two days then given my hall of 40 residents (no tx nurse) and state walked thru the door. i learned fast .

however, after several months i moved to another home where 30 pt per nurse is the norm and tx nurse is on deck 7 days a week i was pleasantly surprised not all LTC FACILITYS are alike. i now do mds and work the floor when im needed. i always enjoy getting back on the floor.l

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
i work in a LTC facility, does anyone know if there is a "legal" pt/res ratio?? two nights last week, night nurses came into a shirt at 5pm with no help for the floor...1 nurse, 3 CNA 4 halls with approx. 75 pts. 12 hr shift, not only near immpossible and unsafe but is it even legal??...i'm so afraid it will happen to me...i think i would run...
What you're describing is perfectly legal, because there are no laws in existence for or against it.

There are no legally mandated ratios for LTC facilities anywhere in the nation. The only legally mandated nurse/patient ratios in the U.S. exist for acute care facilities in the state of California. The remaining states do not have ratios.

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