Nurse to Patient Ratio

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2011

:mad:RATIO 11 TO 1 AND ONE CNA...NOT SAFE....HOW DO YOU STOP IT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO!!! UNSAFE AND POOR PATIENT CARE....PLEASE HELP!

Advice: Walk away and save your license.

What other help can we give?

BettyBoop01 · Jan 17, 2011

I started refusing patients at 9. I really felt like 7-8 was too many. What type of floor are you on? I ended up quitting. Id say start looking for another job fast and get outta there.

ValDonovan · Jan 17, 2011

Guess it depends on your work environment. I have seen Hospital Med/Surg with 6-8 pts. per nurse, but LTC is totally different.

Can you give a little more info??

tablefor9, RN · Jan 17, 2011

In an acute care setting, like a med/surg floor, I'd recommend becoming a vocal advocate with your nurse mgr, then director, then HR/Risk mgmt department. Keep a log of staffing issues, writing up any near misses on appropriate form (KWIM?) for Risk Mgmt to review. Sometimes, you just have to paint the picture.

You are always within your rights as a nurse to refuse report if staffing is that unsafe. You may lose your job, but you won't lose your license, or any sleep over a bad outcome that could have been prevented with a higher standard of care.

I'm sorry to say that the position you are in is nothing new, and will always be part of nursing. Nurse mgrs have to be able to show that they staff appropriately, but call ins and a flood of admissions make mincemeat of best attempts. We can always be outnumbered, especially in a "closed unit" type situation, where no one can float in or out.

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2011

I would refuse the assignment. And notify the BON. And maybe the Joint commission.

pacuRN26 · Jan 17, 2011

I would not even take report on more than 8 patients, and even that is not safe. I would say they needed to bring in someone else. 11 patients, that is nutty!

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 17, 2011

I would notify the agency that accredits your facility, if there is one. I would also notify your boss what your personal limits are, in writing. Check the policies first and see what they might say about this. I would do some research and give them a chance to correct the situation. If this is a long term problem then you might be out of luck. I would look for a new job but don't do anything rash like walk off a shift. Good luck.

lindarn · Jan 17, 2011

I would notify the agency that accredits your facility, if there is one. I would also notify your boss what your personal limits are, in writing. Check the policies first and see what they might say about this. I would do some research and give them a chance to correct the situation. If this is a long term problem then you might be out of luck. I would look for a new job but don't do anything rash like walk off a shift. Good luck.

The agency who does this is the "State Facilities and Licensing Division". You can probably find them on the State Board of Health web site.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

ButterflyNurse30 · Jan 17, 2011

Where are you working? I work in LTC and have about 30 patients and 2 cna's on 3to11, dayshift may have 3 cna's......

dura_mater · Jan 17, 2011

I read posts like this, and my heart truly goes out to all who have to endure such unsafe working conditions.

All I can say is protect yourself and your patients, and thank God for state mandated staffing ratios here in California!

NooNieNursie · Jan 21, 2011

Where are you working? I work in LTC and have about 30 patients and 2 cna's on 3to11, dayshift may have 3 cna's......

Yea, if it is a subacute/ rehab / transitional care unit 11 to 1 isn't so bad as the patients are usually (though not always) stable.

If it is a LTC unit, that ratio is ridiculously good.

IF it is acute care that is horrible and unsafe.