nurse/patient ratio?

Leelee2 · Nov 24, 2010

Be careful, cya...keep looking in the meantime. Your LTC facility seems like it sucks, I feel sorry, for you the other nursing staff, but mostly for your residents:crying2:

Chrissy Lou · Nov 25, 2010

Im a new grad. I just got licensed and started my 1st job in long term care. The nurse/ patient ratio is between 35-47 patients per LPN. I feel completely overwhelmed and believe the ratio is crazy high. Is this because I am a new grad or is it really a high ratio? any advise?

This seems to be the trend I am afraid- it is COMPLETELY overwhelming, and who can feel like they are doing the patients any good? It is sadly setting the stage for serious med errors and burnout. But with all the big corporations running LTC now, it seems like the almighty dollar is what drives the care- not necessarily what the patients need. It is so sad. I would love for the administrative folks who decide these ratios to step up to the plate. They should be out on the floor, investigating how their decisions affect the care of the residents and the resident's families.

indynurse '87 · Nov 25, 2010

In Indiana, the state does not have a Pt./Nurse ration regulaiton. However each facility has a nursing hour/Pt. ratio that they go by for staffing. As far as the State Regs go, it is based on negative outcome, if your facility can staff a unit of 50 residents with just one RN/LPN for meds/tx and 2 CNA's for ADL's and no negative outcome is evident then that is what they are allowed to do.

I have had as many as 35 residents on a day shift, and as many as 60 on nights.

It takes acute organizational skills, a good working relationship with your CNA's, and a lot of prayer! :nurse: