Nurse-Patient Ratios

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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.

Specializes in ALF, Medical, ER.

30 bed Med Unit

6 RNs with 5 patients a peice

2-3 CNAs

1 Charge nurse

1 Unit Secretary

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That sounds like wonderful staffing to me. I am currently an NP, 2 years our of the hospital, but we had 1 RN to 6-7 pts with one aide per 14 pts. As a comparison, I "moonlight" as an RN for agency on weekends, and our state (in their infinite wisdom) feels that it is safe to pass meds on 45 (yes, 45!!) pts in a NH. Last weekend, out of 45 pts, I had 22 diabetics with accuchecks, 12 breathing treatments, and a tube feed and a straight cath with the med pass!!! I won't go back there again!

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Specializes in M/S, ICU, supervisor.

I work in southern ms, my hosp is less than 100 beds. we used to have awesome staffing- day shift starting with 4-5 and night shift starting with 5-6 with the charge never starting with pts unless in state of desperation. well, our population has tripled due to hurricane and staff is stretched to max b/c they are having to take 7-8 pts. my hosp is in the process of many changes and we are trying to cut corners. but the main concern is the safety of our pts. Acuity of pts should be the main factor when deciding staffing, not numbers.

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Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

Here's one for ya....dh just called from work to vent for 30 seconds. He's a new grad LPN just a few weeks off orientation. He was floated to the surgical floor. There are 15-16 patients and he's alone down there with 1 RN and 2 aids and they are slammed. With the new laws further limiting what LPNs can do that RN must be ready to pull her hair out. Lucky for her he knows what he's doing...he was one of the best aids in the hospital before he became a nurse. He was in a hurry so the only words of wisdom I could quickly come up with were "try not to kill anyone...love you." :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Administrative and med/surg.

I work a med/surg floor in TN. I work 7pm-7am. Our load is 7-10 patients. If we are lucky we have 3 techs for 28 pts. Many times it is 1 RN, 2 LPNS and 26 pts.

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Specializes in CARDIAC SURGERY, TRAUMA,.

close but no cigar. I work in a major University Hospital in CA, on a step down. Our ratio is 2-3pts, CNA with 5-6 patients, float RN(no assignment), Unit Secretary and resource is out of count. We have a Rapid Response team in addition to the Code Blue Team to aid if a patient is going downhill. Our med-surg units are a 3-4 ratio, CNA, Float RN, Resource out of count. We staff by acuity, not the ratio law. I hope this helps. We have many traveler nurses that are signing on, they don't want to travel to the East Coast now where ratios are unsafe. You can thank Rose Ann Demoro for the progress. We still have a long way to go.

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Specializes in CARDIAC SURGERY, TRAUMA,.

Geez, you couldn't pay me enough to work that floor, how awful for you. I'd work at Starbucks instead. You don't have to worry about killing somebody there if you make a mistake.:nurse:

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I work in a geriatric skilled facility. I am a RN charge nurse, pass meds to 28 residents have 3 CNAs and a Ward clerk. Most of my residents are, demencia, alzheimers, quit a few parkinsons and the behaviors are through the roof. Don't dare ask for help. They only ask me what I'm NOT doing right. Oh, I could go on and on and on.....

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what we should be asking is what a frail confused elderly woman's life is worth in our society? Is it worth only the revenue her diagnosis can generate from medicare or medicade? The least amount of care so the most amount of money can feed greedy corporations that own these facilities? The profits come from the exploitation of the elderly and their caregivers. I wonder if the politicians even care about the poor, sick and vulnerable.

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Specializes in CARDIAC SURGERY, TRAUMA,.

And I bet the pay sucks! You guys need to form a union and get the pay and patient safety ratios you deserve.

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I haven't started my nursing program yet....still finishing pre-reqs....but I have heard that nurses feel very overworked and stretched to the limit (patient limit, etc..) Others say that this is one of the primary reasons for nurse shortages. Some get overwhelmed by the years of shortages and switch out of this profession.

Just a question from the new up and coming!!! (Hopefully)

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