Nurse-Patient Ratios

[pattin13]

Looking for input on nurse patient ratios for med-surg floor. Currently 4-5 to RN (If nurse starts with 5, she is given 1 patient who will go home on her shift. If starts with 4 than will get an admission during shift). We have a charge nurse who has no patient assisgnment and is intervention and 1 CNA for every 7-10 patients and a Unit sec. This is a 35 bed unit. I understand that we are close to CA ratio numbers. Your input please.

[shuuu1968]

This sounds good to me.

[RN1980]

well you are not in mississppi thats for sure..

[plumrn, BSN, RN]

That's wonderful! It is not the norm I can tell you.

We are pretty close to you with usually start with 5, may be up to 7 before the shift ends. If you stay at 5 it's usually because you discharged 2 and got 2 back. The turnover is what really keeps you busy. We also have a CNA for about every 10 pts. The charge usually takes 0-3 pts. We are rural and have mostly LPN staff, so it is difficult for the RN to take any pts and keep up with everything the one and only RN has to do.

[patwil73]

Our Med-Surg floors have:

Days 3-5 (less than half the nurses can have 5 or they stop admissions until they get another nurse)

Evening 4-6 (again less than half get 6)

Nights 5-6 (mostly 6)

PCA up to 12

Unassigned charge

Unit secretery except on nights (floating secretery then)

Hope this helps,

Pat

[LiverpoolJane]

I live in the UK and the hospital I wrok in has 2 RNs and 2 HCAs for 36 patients.

Yes that is correct 1 RN for 18 patients.

[misschelei]

Dh would like to know where you work. He usually starts with 6 patients and winds up with 7-9. They get a 3rd CNA if there is 40 (not 39) patients. The charge nurse is nowhere to be found because her/his patient load is the same as his. Oh and the unit secretary leaves @ 10. Day shift carries a similar load only difference is they get the secretary the whole shift.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

We have 29 bedded wards with

6 RNs 2 unqualified for early

5 and 2 for lates

3 and 2 for night shifts.

That's in the Uk and I think those numbers are fairly good for Britain

[pattin13]

I work in a small (100 Bed) community hospital in North East WI

[pattin13]

Thank you for the input. I recently changed the master staff plan for my unit. The nurses sill feel overwhelmed. I just wanted to valid numbers and than we will move on to

looking at out nursing model based on a patient centered focus. Does anyone have a model care model to share????

[pickledpepperRN]

That staffing seems good for average med'surg patients.

A lot depends on the acuity and experience of the staff.

[SakredStrega]

That's about what my hospital has, too. I'm so glad our Charge Nurse doesn't take pts. because I always ask her so many questions. heheh However, if we get slammed, our charges will take pts. then.