Please share nurse to pt ratio

sggirl · Aug 25, 2007

I work in an outpatient 16 chair Oncology/Hematology clinic with 2 doctors. The nurse/patient ratio is 8:1 to sometimes 10:1 depending on staffing. We administer chemotherapy, Infed infusions, IVF's, IV antibiotics. We also administer research chemotherapy. Our duties also include checking the prescription line for refill requests. On average for an 8-5 (or until the last patient is done) day, there are 2-3 nurses in the the treatment room. The great thing is that we have a pharmacy tech to mix drugs and an MA to help out with vital signs and other misc tasks. We are very busy from about 10a-3p.We work as a team and that makes for a wonderful 8-9 hour day.

RNOCN2311 · Oct 27, 2007

In our oupatient treatment area it's 8 room with 3 nurses, one assigned calls, consults, scheduling, etc. which gives us four total and staggered day shifts. We have primary assignments but on average it's 2-3:1 depending on what's being given. Our Rad onc is 3:1 also with one RN seeing what is needed for the day with 3 rooms for exams.

RNBMT · Nov 11, 2007

Hi guys I'm new to the site. I work at a bone marrow/stem cell transplant unit. Our nurse:pt ratio is 3:1 or often 2:1 if the clients are very busy or very ill. I can't imagine giving patients the type of care they deserve having more than this load.

EZGM · Dec 9, 2007

4:1 inpt oncology

ds123 · Jan 27, 2008

We have 3 RNs. One is the pharmacist and the other 2 work the room starting IVs/ports, drawing blood, giving injections...We have 12 chairs and one bed. We have a phlebotomist in the room too. We average 10-15 chemos daily and see average 20-28 total patients in the infusion room. We run all day long.

spottybug · Jul 19, 2008

I work nights and we're usually 3:1 but never more than 4:1, no CNA's. :) Usually pick up the fourth at 11p...

bottomsup · Jul 20, 2008

We have nine chairs in our outpatient clinic, and two RN's, but we also have to mix our own chemo, so sometimes it gets very hectic, as the nurse on the floor is left to do telephone triage, prescriptions, hang the chemo, access/deaccess the ports/IVs etc. We're looking for more nurses...anybody interested in North Texas?

joancordrey · Jul 21, 2008

I work in an private practice with 5 md and we see 38-65 patients daily average of 45, and there are only 3 full time nurses, but to be safe we need 4 RN and one part time RN for busy days. I feel I can safely handle 5 chemo patients at one time and then shots or other quick tx but, at this time we are short 2 full time RN and have no part time RN they have all left for better pay. Joan

indymom06 · Jul 28, 2008

We are actually setting the bar for nursing in oncology. Our patient to nurse ratio is 3:1. Awesome right...sometimes we get 4 patients if we are short staffed. This really helps the patients and us to have more time to vent/talk and observe the patients.

Indymom06

ORSmurf · Jul 28, 2008

We are actually setting the bar for nursing in oncology. Our patient to nurse ratio is 3:1. Awesome right...sometimes we get 4 patients if we are short staffed. This really helps the patients and us to have more time to vent/talk and observe the patients.
Indymom06

That's awesome! Do you work in-patient or out-patient?

joancordrey · Jul 30, 2008

Hi I work in a private 5 md practice and we average 40 patients daily, and with 4 nurses that is not bad , but two other offices in town have 5-7 nurses in their chemo room and they average 40 patients also. Joan

Beaches10 · Aug 1, 2008

I work Oncology Surgical/medical/end of life care inpatient with in patient and outpatient chemo on the same unit. We have 9 patient beds plus a 4 chair chemo room. Will do up to 6 or so chemos daily. It is a 2 nurse/2 CNAs unit and on lucky days get some float help. Can be hectic, but the thing to remember is never rush chemo patients in and out - that's where mistakes are made. We have tried scheduling the chemos and is working better, but invariably our chemo patients think of us as family and drop by early as "they know we wouldn't mind". As we are "family" they also want to chat alot. Can be a killer day. Worked 3 hours after shift was over on Tuesday just finishing the paper work. I still hate computer charting, I can write 3 times faster.