nurse to patient ratio for med pass

[Deedle5358]

Hi, I recently got a job at an assisted living facility. I am the charge nurse and the meds are ususally passed by a med tech. We have 60 residents total, 40 upstairs and 20 downstairs. I know the techs have a rough time with the pass. I did not know how bad it was until I did it this past weekend. It took me 4 hours just to do the 40 upstairs. There are so many BP's, pulses, weights, eyedrops, nose sprays, inhalers........you get the point. I do not feel this is an ideal situation. For one you are definitely out of compliance with the time. I got downstairs to give am meds at almost noon. Does anyone have any idea what would be considered a safe nurse/patient ratio for a med pass. My gut tells me that 60 is way too much. I need to convince my employer that it is unsafe for me as well as the techs. I am not sure if the regs for assisted living stipulate this. Thanks for any info you have.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

no regs in pa re patient to nurse ratios in alf's

facilites are licensed as personal care homes:

http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol35/35-17/823.html

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter2600/chap2600toc.html

look direct care regs: direct care staffing.

2600.57. direct care staffing.

(a) at all times one or more residents are present in the home a direct care staff person who is 21 years of age or older and who serves as the designee, shall be present in the home. the direct care staff person may be the administrator if the administrator provides direct care services.

(b) direct care staff persons shall be available to provide at least 1 hour per day of personal care services to each mobile resident.

© direct care staff persons shall be available to provide at least 2 hours per day of personal care services to each resident who has mobility needs. (d) at least 75% of the personal care service hours specified in subsections (b) and © shall be available during waking hours.

need to figure out # hrs direct care needs per patient to see if you have sufficient staff. assisted living should not have need for bp or pulse checks with each med pass as patients don't check their bp in own home when they take own meds and are considered stable.....alf's are considered pt's "home"

wt and bp checks need are weekly at most for chf pts (more frequest with docs order only); other's 1xmo to 1x year!

done seperate time from med pass.