nurse-pt ratio

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I am working on a psych unit that has two nurses per shift. The unit can hold over 30 pts. This is in Florida - does anyone know if this is a usual set up for down here?

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

I work in an 8 bed acute unit. We always have 3 scheduled, RN, LPN, and tech. If we aren't full, and don't have somebody on line-of-sight one of us will get to stay home, or be floated.

We frequently get staff floated to us. OB staff must be in the building, even if there aren't any patients for them. They often get to help us out.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

I am working inpatient geriatric/psych with a patient load of 9 - 13 with one tech. The tech is mainly occupied doing Q15 min checks. All paper charting, no unit clerk, no charge nurse or house supervisor, no night pharmacist, plus up to 3 admits during night shift. Many pts with dementia and/or delusional. Am I crazy for thinking this staffing is crazy?

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I am working inpatient geriatric/psych with a patient load of 9 - 13 with one tech. The tech is mainly occupied doing Q15 min checks. All paper charting, no unit clerk, no charge nurse or house supervisor, no night pharmacist, plus up to 3 admits during night shift. Many pts with dementia and/or delusional. Am I crazy for thinking this staffing is crazy?

Not crazy to think that at all, especially considering that nighttime is when a lot of your patients come alive thanks to sundowning.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
VA is the only place I ever saw staffing this sweet. :)

And California: 1:6 ratio for acute psych come hell or high water. My average patient load is 4.

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I'm in ct. Ratio is 1:8. Charge usually only takes 1 or 2 Pts and does admissions

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Thanks a bunch for the reply. Tonight I started with 10 pts with one tech, admitted one surprise admit. I had another surprise admit that could not ambulate or even wheel himself in a wheelchair. I REFUSED to take report and he was already in our intake department transferred from a very large hospital. Our admits to floor take at least two hours due to the amount of paper charting and assessment.

We will see if I am fired tonight. I think they are too short-staffed to even think of firing me! If they do, I don't care. I am not going to work with unsafe staffing!

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That is a crazy set up.

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Specializes in Pscy / Mental Health.

We have a 1:6 ratio on the acute psyc floor I with on, with a mental health worker as well for supports.

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