and people WANT to do this????????????

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jun 19, 2006

27 patients in 12 hours or all at once?

Clinic patients, or mainstream ER?

27 clinic patients would be no problem, but regular ER- unbelievable.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jun 19, 2006

That's unheard of for the ER nurses even in my neck of the beach (Florida)!

I'd have to vote with my feet.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2006

27 pts in a shift, yeah...but all at once? The most pts an RN in our ER has at one time is 12, and that's with an LPN and a tech, with lower acuity pts. And this is from an ER that sees 130,000/year. Either I'm misunderstanding or you're working in a third world country.

JessicRN · Jun 22, 2006

Ranchgirl30 Were you actually told this before you signed up. This is not normal and extremely dangerous if you have to take care of 27 patients all at once. I would talk to the Board of nurses legal dept and see if they can do this? Goodluck

SnowymtnRN · Jul 1, 2006

I have to vent. . .I thought I would LOVE ER nursing - but now it leaves me frazzled, dismayed, overworked, sad and sometimes even feeling like a failure. I work in a hospital where it's not uncommon (in fact almost a given) that you come onto a shift with 20-27 patients to yourself - YES. . . . and 20 patients is a good day. I laugh when people complain about 10 patients. You spent 10 hours running your tail off and then realize that you have had to pee for the last 3 hours and that you haven't eaten anything or gotten a break for the last 10 hours. Quality patient care?? LOL, what the heck is that. . . . .
I have done this for a year and I feel dismayed with the entire profession as well as the health care system itself!! I don't want to feel this way. I know that everyone will say that I should leave my job. . . but I am in a contract for one more year. Help!!!!!! I went into nursing because I thought I would make a difference. . .now I feel like a hamster running on a wheel that is spinning 1000 miles an hour!!! Tell me it's got to be better other places. . . .

I work in Colorado at the busiest ER in the city. We take on average 4-6 patients a piece at a time and that's a LOT most days. I can't imagine where you work that requires that?!? OMG that's awful. I'd jump ship tomorrow if i were you. BUT the question too is is it acute patients or Urgent Care/Clinic stuff? Cuz our clinic side there's only one RN and 2 techs, sometimes a paramedic. BUT they are SUPER busy over there and only the RN can assess so that RN can sometimes really get hammered away with tons of assessments.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2006

In our regular ER 4-5 patients, once had 7, never any more than that, in fast track have had up to 12, usually 10 without a clerk or tech, just me and that can be bad. You are making a grave mistake if you truly must care for 25 patients at one time. Buy your way out of the contract or do as the other posters have recommended and see what your contract says or go to legal department. You risk both your license and your life with that heavy a patient load.

steelcityrn, RN · Jul 1, 2006

I have to say the same thing, no way would a E.R. nurse have that many patients, I just can't see it. That would mean if you have 3 or 4 nurses working, that would be over a 100 bed E.R. Impossible.

ern91 · Jul 7, 2006

i have also done this type of nursing. in a level1 county facility. started my shift with an er holding area of 43 pts, myself and 1 other rn, 1 cna and that was it. this is the norm for this hospital. the nursing is of the team concept,

sometimed there are 3 rns, but the pts continue to arrive. when the stetchers are touching and the nurses have to move them into the aisle to do pt care, the hospital might go on diversion. this is a hospital that has operated like this for over 20 yrs. it is a famous hospital that has been filmed many times for news and documentaries. it's a horrible environment in which to care for pts and it is a horrible environment in which to be a pt

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

Welcome to the wonderfull worl of ER nursing