overloaded!

[pinkpunkca]

It seems as of lately that the patient/RN and patient/support staff ratio has been increasing lately. I'm struggling to deal with the increase load. Does anyone else notice this? I don't know how I am suppose to get my charting, med passes, review I&O's, as well as patient teaching done, all on top of getting to know my patients well enough to provide proper care! How are you dealing with it?

[Private Peds Nurse, LPN]

I went into home health nursing. Not only does it pay better, but, it is much calmer and not 1/3 as stressful as hospital nursing!

You have one patient vs 7 or more patients.

Did, I say I love what I do? Well I do and would not go back to hospital nursing for $150 and hour!!!!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

it seems as of lately that the patient/rn and patient/support staff ratio has been increasing lately. i'm struggling to deal with the increase load. does anyone else notice this? i don't know how i am suppose to get my charting, med passes, review i&o's, as well as patient teaching done, all on top of getting to know my patients well enough to provide proper care! how are you dealing with it?

i am not dealing with it well!!! where i currently work, the census on nights is 1 nurse to 6 patients. these patients are really really ill!!! some belong in an icu but at times the icu is full!!! so you can imagine my anger, frustration, and disgust! also, this winter the ratio goes up to 7-8 patients on night (6-7 on days). i think admin is under the wrong impression that ill patients sleep during the night because the hospital is akin to a hotel! in any case i am out of there... i cannot image surviving the winter with my license in-tack on that floor or any other within that hospital ...!!! to top it off my current floor expects us to do our own vitals and blood sugars because the cnas are busy (no they are not). so i got a new job, where it is mandatory that i not exceed 5 patients and i have tech support! plus, i will no longer be working in med surg!!... i will be working in an er at a different hospital. op, it sounds like it is time for you to go too.

[oramar]

i am not dealing with it well!!! where i currently work, the census on nights is 1 nurse to 6 patients. these patients are really really ill!!! some belong in an icu but at times the icu is full!!! so you can imagine my anger, frustration, and disgust! also, this winter the ratio goes up to 7-8 patients on night (6-7 on days). i think admin is under the wrong impression that ill patients sleep during the night because the hospital is akin to a hotel! in any case i am out of there... i cannot image surviving the winter with my license in-tack on that floor or any other within that hospital ...!!! to top it off my current floor expects us to do our own vitals and blood sugars because the cnas are busy (no they are not). so i got a new job, where it is mandatory that i not exceed 5 patients and i have tech support! plus, i will no longer be working in med surg!!... i will be working in an er at a different hospital. op, it sounds like it is time for you to go too.

this sounds just like many of the rants i have written. this is why i am sure the nursing shortage will be back shortly. you are well advised to move on, that is what i always did.