1:22 nurse/patient ratio?

diane227, LPN, RN · Jul 16, 2009

Sounds like WAY too much to me.

SDALPN · Jul 16, 2009

They say meds on all pts are at 12a, 2a, 4a, 6a. A few have trachs, all have feeding tubes. 3 CNA's to assist. Very low turnover rate at this facility for some reason. Most have been there for many years. The nurse is responsible for getting 4 pts. dressed in the morning with the CNA's doing the rest. They claim there is even downtime at night.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 16, 2009

I don't know.. I got very good at G tubes at one of my rotations but the most I could ever do in 90 mins was 9 which was the nurses patient load at a sub acute. Maybe if the meds are spaced out but still thats alot at the peds rotation we had with kids with trachs and g tubes was 1:6

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jul 16, 2009

Sounds dangerous. Run!

blondnursey · Jul 16, 2009

i had job with 26 mr/dd kids adults, stable, 24 of which had gtubes, one had a trach.

had 3 cnas on at night with me.

i had downtime at night, even with meds at at the same times as you mentioned.

i liked that job.

are you a new nurse?

allnurses Guide · Jul 16, 2009

Hmmm, I don't know. There are times when I'm the only nurse for about 26-30 children, with only maybe two assistants (they aren't CNA's, exactly). However, none of my children usually have anything severe going on physically; generally just severe behavior issues. It's an awful lot of kids to prepare meds for and give them to, though.

22 kids, some with trachs and a bunch with G tubes... I don't know if I'd enjoy dealing with that or not, but quite honestly with 3 CNA's, it does sound like you have pretty adequate help, especially if they are stable for the most part. I have to say though, again, it does suck to have to give a bunch of meds to all of those kids at 6 am, especially if you have to crush a bunch of meds, for the kids with G tubes.

I don't know that I would run from this job though... to me it really doesn't sound THAT bad.

Melina · Jul 16, 2009

Can you shadow a nurse for a few night shifts before you make a decision? I would want to see things for myself.

~Mel'

SDALPN · Jul 16, 2009

i had job with 26 mr/dd kids adults, stable, 24 of which had gtubes, one had a trach.
had 3 cnas on at night with me.
i had downtime at night, even with meds at at the same times as you mentioned.
i liked that job.
are you a new nurse?

Thanks for your replies! I've been a nurse for about 4 years with the majority being peds. I will shadow first. Thats a great idea!