PCT/CNA Patient Load in Hospital Setting Question

[RedneckGrl]

Ok, I just have a quick question for all you PCT's out there. I work on the surgical floor in a fairly big hospital and due to budget and everything they changed the staffing grid and now we are only "allowed" like 1 PCT per like 15-16 patients with one PCT having like 9 patients. Well today I had 9 patients from 7a-11a then brought in another one but in those 4 hours I ran my behind off answer call light after call light and actually have 4 patients lined up on a internal wait list because the nurses needed assistance because pretty much all nine of my patient's needed assistance with toileting and turning every 2 hours and so on, not to mention meals and baths which didn't get too far on those. Is this normal for other facilities out there? We used to be able to have at least 2 PCT's on the floor to help with the load but they changed the way they do staffing and have cut back. I just don't see this as safe for the patient's for one but also not being able to take care of patient's needs or answer call lights promptly like we should.

Any thoughts??

[funtimes]

You cant determine a workload solely on the number of patients alone. ICU Nurses often have one or two patients, does that mean they have an easy job?

Whether say 14 patients is unsafe depends on the patients themselves and their level of acuity. I can have 7 patients and never have a free minute if I have just one high fall risk bed jumper. I also might have a couple patients that are on the borderline to being sent to the ICU and require lots of attention.

Ive had shifts of say 11 patients that were a nightmare just because I had a combination of heavy turners who were incontinent, a patient who can barely stand that wants to go on the commode twice an hour, combative bed jumpers, post surgical patients who required constant vitals, and then demanding patients who lay on the call light all shift. So when people say oh I have so and so number of patients, implying they are some super PCT with superior time management skills, I pretty much dismiss their talk.

These people that talk about having 25 patients must work on some unit where everyone can pretty much do things themselves and the RNs do almost all the work, because there is no way on a busy med/surg/tele unit you are taking care of more than 20 patients and have it be remotely safe, no matter who you are. More than 15 is pretty much always unsafe in my opinion, unless your job as a PCT or aide is just to run around answering call lights all shift.

[JDsGirl]

Great thoughts @futimes. Patient acuity would certainly influence a PCTs day and the level of difficulty. Sounds like hard work any way you slice it. Appreciate your thoughts.

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