nurse-patient ratio

[dawn1rhino]

Just wondering what the nurse-patient ratio is for most folks - particularly in Med-Surg...

and

do most / any states have regulations?

I work 7p-7a and never have less than 6, but have had up 11 within the course of 12 hour shift, but not more than 9 at once (so far)

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

Ours during 7p-7:30am usually is 6-8 patients each. 6-7 I would say is perfect, 8 too much.

[Sarasgrd94]

Just wondering what the nurse-patient ratio is for most folks - particularly in Med-Surg...

and

do most / any states have regulations?

I work 7p-7a and never have less than 6, but have had up 11 within the course of 12 hour shift, but not more than 9 at once (so far)

i usually have 10 at night (7p-7a). I am a new nurse(may 2005) it is real hard. i love it but many times I feel overwhelmed. I am just sticking it out for the expirence. I love being a nurse, and will eventually try ICU.

[military spouse]

SE Arizona...5-6 patients on day shift and 6-7 pt. on nights. Many times we will end the day with only 3 or 4 patients each if discharges exceed post-ops and admits.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I'm on a cardiology unit; that translates into a mixture of pre and post procedure stuff, and sometimes different types of overflow patients. 4 during the day shift, up to 5 at night, is normal. I'm not there yet; I'm up to 3 at this point in rotation and wow. I'm hoping I'll have what it takes to do 4 and 5.

[wanda06211]

Just wondering what the nurse-patient ratio is for most folks - particularly in Med-Surg...

and

do most / any states have regulations?

I work 7p-7a and never have less than 6, but have had up 11 within the course of 12 hour shift, but not more than 9 at once (so far)

I work night shift on med/surg in a very small hospital. Our rule on nights is 2 nurses for up to 18 patients. Once we get 18, we can have 3 nurses, but if we have say 17 "needy" patients, we usually call someone in to help with the 2100 med pass. I have had as many as 8 patients on nights. It is a handful, but can be done safely (with teamwork). If we get in a bind, we can usually depend on someone from ER to come help us out for a moment. On the flip side of that, we always have at least 2 nurses on the floor. So I actually worked one night when we only had 4 patients for 2 nurses. ;-)