Nurse: patient ratio @ VA (Veterans) hospital

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I am just starting a new job at the VA where I live. The unit is a 26 bed post surgical/medicine unit. I understand that there are 3 teams of nurses made up of 1 RN, 1 LPN and 1 aide during my shift (0730 to 1600). That means that the RN will be responsible for 8 or 9 patients apiece. Okay... Is this normal for all of the other VA hospitals? The nurse manager told me that her goal is to increase staff to where it's about 5 or 6 to 1 ratio-wise. 1 of the new nurses told me not to be fooled by her saying this, as she has told all new-hires this same thing... that basically she's blowing smoke until you get wrapped up into the job. I hear people saying all of the time, "You'll love it at the V.A., etc." I want to believe this desperately. I've been a nurse for 12 years. I'm leaving agency nursing at 35 dollars per hour to work for a little over 26 dollars per hour. MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING, but I don't want to be shooting myself in the foot, either. Any input would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Marie in Louisiana

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Also-- how often do you have to work an OFF TOUR shift? I understand that people are on vacation a lot since you get 5 weeks per year. How often do YOU experience having to work an off tour shift? (since this is the case at other VA's as well)

thanks again!

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I was told 4-1 ratios for a MH and a rehab unit at my local VA.

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At the VA I currently work at it is 5-1 on the med and the surg floor. 2-1 in the ICU but this can be flexed up to a 1-1 if the patient is critical enough

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One RN, one LPN and one aide for 8-9 people seems fine. That's three pts per staff person, or 4-4.5 pts per licensed staff (with an aide to assist). Where I work on acute medical, I had 7 pts last night with an aide. It was busy, but fine. When I don't have an aide, I have 4 all by myself. It would be cake if I had 4 plus an aide!!!!

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I urge you all to check this safe staffing site as an extension of American Nurses Association;

http://www.safestaffingsaveslives.org/default.aspx

I have some questions about it myself, but I urge you to take the poll and back the ANA and any other organization that is working toward nurse/patient ratios that will not burn out nurses and risk patient care.

I am currently working (Kansas)acute med/surg on nights 7pm to 7am (which really means I'm in half an hour early and clock out half an hour later due to change of shift report, and my patient ratios have been as high as 1:7.

If our patient ration goes down to 1:4 we have to do total care, including CNA stuff and unit secretary things; entering orders, admits, prepping rooms, etc.

Because we have a unit secretary who spends much more time playing video games than she does inputting orders and doing her job, we have been penalized by only having her onboard until midnight any given night.

ICU and PCU is 1:1

Post surgery is dependent upon patient stability and is a low ratio.

At this point, I would welcome only 5 patients!

Again,,put your questions to the ANA, read the specifics, take the survey/poll and support legislation that favors treating nurses well.

The federal government is doing lots of studies on why they lose so many hospital nurses each year, and why so many leave the field altogether,,,let them know exactly why!

If anyone else knows of any other nurse organization that is working to protect from nurse burnout and provide for patient safety, please post it!

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