nurse pt ratio?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2007

Our ratio is 5 to 7. Short of going on strike we've talked and had meetings until we're blue in the face and it hasn't changed yet.

You should talk to your preceptor. You should have a positive learning experience and shouldn't have to come to the internet looking for prioritization and help with organizing your day. That's the preceptors job. I'm a preceptor and I would feel like a failure if my student was overwhelmed, disorganized and didn't feel like they were prioritizing.

It's good your getting a taste of the real world, but I feel the preceptor isn't doing their job.

Good luck.

TazziRN, RN · Mar 27, 2007

Ours is 2-5 per nurse depending on the unit. Really critical pts are 1:1.

MIA-RN1, RN · Mar 27, 2007

ours is 5 mother/baby couplets to one nurse. Included in the five can also be antepartum or post partum mag pts and their babies.

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2007

Hi

I have to agree with Tweety here. I am also a preceptor--and have been for years. That's part of the preceptors job, to show you or help you to learn prioritization.

Our ratios are different on various shifts. I'm a night worker, so we tend to have more pt's then the day or PM shifts.

We have anywhere from 4-7 per RN. Altho, I have had as many as 9 at times (rare). But for me, that's not so horrifying, cause as you can see I have been a nurse for MANY long years & in the old days, we would sometimes get the WHOLE floor----25 pt's.

But that was a different time with different accuities.

Our day shift RN's get from 4-6 pt's--most of the time 5.

Now then, tho they do have LOTS of discharges and then admits. So it can get awfully hectic.

You didn't say what type of floor you're on--I work on a Med/Surg--Hem/Onc unit. I am Oncology Certified. We get a LOT of Chemo & Blood Transfusions plus we also get all the pt's who might need peritoneal dialysis.

Our surgical/trauma floor, they get 4-5 pt's.; our Icu's get 1-2 pt's.

Again, I really think you need to talk with your preceptor.

Also, do you get to evaluate the person precepting?

We have a new Nurse Residency Program & with this your orientation is 3 months with a preceptor.

At the end, there is a lengthly evaluation of both preceptor & preceptee.

Hope this helps a bit;

Good Luck; A career in Nursing can be very satisfying and rewarding.

Mary Ann

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Mar 27, 2007

We have anyware from 4-7 pts usually, sometimes more if someone called in and we have to cover that team of patients.

dedicatedstudent · Mar 27, 2007

i am on a med-surg unit. precepting was ony 5 weeks. i am the type of person that likes to be told what to do until i grasp what's really going on. i still feel like some days are under control and others days were hectic.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 27, 2007

When I worked Tele on day shift we had 4-5 and on nights we had 8-9.

Now I work in an 8 bed ER.......

debthern · Mar 27, 2007

I work in a PACU and we are 2 to 1 unless they are an icu patient and they are 1:1

Lorie P. · Mar 28, 2007

on a busy med/sur floor, 6-9 depending on how we are staffed. this is on 11-7, it seems the upper mngt is under the impression that pt's sleep all night!!

Gromit · Mar 28, 2007

My floor is generally 3-1, though if we have the staff, and the acuity is really nasty, its 2-1. Most of the facility ranges between 5 or 6-1, I think (not sure) short-term stay is also 6-1, and if anyone would have higher levels, it would be them. Their patients are all 'walkie-talkies' (with rare exceptions), their vitals are q-shift (8hr), no telemetry etc., meds are given q8hr on that floor -in other words, the patients are pretty much self-sufficient.

I've never been a preceptor, but I do concur with those posters who are. You should discuss this with your preceptor.

I can't speak for others, but I never really felt 'ready' until I did my 'internship' (for new nurses) -certainly never felt 'ready' while in school. If this is your case, then talk to the preceptor and give it time.

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2007

I have 5-7... sometimes we pick up an 8th if a nurse leaves at 3:00. I really feel like 6-8 is too many patients on my floor. I work on a renal/respiratory medsurg floor. This time of year we get a lot of sick respiratory patients and it can get crazy somedays. I am getting better at prioritizing. But it really makes me sad that I don't ever have time to sit with a patient so they can tell me how they are REALLY feeling. When I have a very sick patient I feel I am neglecting my other patients. I think we should have no more than 5 patients.. But what do I know? I'm at the bottom of the totem pole where I work!

PS. Maybe if someone wouldn't call in every single day I work then this wouldn't be such a problem!