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anything from 4 patients (paeds) upwards. depends on how many staff are on duty and how many patients we have on ward. Today i did 14 hr shift and had 2 bays.........8 patients and triaged patients coming on to assessment ward. my ward is assessment and 24 hr stay. so busy today, going back and forth to theatre too
I work on a mixed medical specialty unit (neurosciences, renal, endo) in a tertiary hospital. During the day we work 1:4, nights are up to 1:8, renal transplants 1:1 for at last 24/24. During the day (morning and evening) the resource nurse (person in charge) in supernumerary; on weekdays we also have the unit manager and a clinical support nurse.
I work 3-11 on a med-surg unit with 6:1 on every shift, although 11-7 can have 7-8/nurse if they're short. Most shifts, it's WAY too many patients since acuity is never taken into account.
For a lot more info about nurse-to-patient ratios in various specialties, use the allnurses search feature and type in "nurse/patient ratio" at the title search and you'll find lots more threads and discussions.
on our med-surg floor they never take into account acuity. we get a lot of total care patients and should only get 5 at night. however there are times it is up to 7. i feel 5 is a number i can handle being a first year out of school lpn. we usually have one aid and never a ward clerk after 6. we put in orders when pts come from er or direct admit. Sometimes I feel I can't give best of care. Family members staying overnight can make it hard too. Some states have a ratio standard now. can't wait for tn to do the same......
I work in the ER of a level 1 trauma center, ratio is 5:1 occasionally a hallway pt which makes it 6:1, one tech for every 10 pt's. If you need help you call the PCC and they send help, all you have to say is "I'm drowning!". I have to say that once in a while we don't get a tech, and I tell you, they are a great help.
Code IIIs are run in a special 6 bed room with 3-4 nurses and 1-2 techs but some times it gets so full that we can get up to 10-12 pt. with help of the team leader and PCC until caos calms down.
I love my job, every minute of it.
Ari RN, BSN, RN
2,029 Posts
Hi Everyone:
Just want to know what is the Nurse/Patient ratio in your unit?
Thanks!