pilpusher

I work a realitvly small KY Hospital. We have two acute medsurg floors each with 33 private beds seperated into 4 wings. There is a central desk were the unit secetary answers lights and enters orders. Each wing has a small room with a counter, med cart, computer, shelving full of supplies, patient fridge, icemaker... you get the picture. Each wing is designed in such a way that you may not see any other nurses that day. I was recently speaking with another nurse who had returned home from travling these past 7 years. "I ask him how are the other hospitals? Did you like them?" He looks and tells me straight up that in the 8 diffrent facilitys that he worked at across the country, our small facility had THE highest ratio he experienced. I was amazed and I wonder.. is that accurate? What are your ratios? Here is where i work: 8:1. RN, LPN.. whatever. 8 patients, 1 license... unless your the unlucky nurse of the day that gets the wing with the extra room.. then its 9:1. So, that is 33:4. .. it could be all RN or 3 LPN and one RN... but that doest matter because each wing has everything you need.. you don't really see your coworkers.. your nurse aide can make or break you in terms of care. aide ratios are 8:1 from 7am-3pm.. then they drop to 16:1 . No charge nurse.. no IV team, admit/discharge team.. whatever kinda teams we don't have 'em. we do it all. Oh and the rounding with a purpose.. was just implemented..

I'm RN on Medsurg in a small KY hospital. I have 7 years in Med/Surg (can we say burnout?) and I'm looking at other departments, primarly our CCU/ICU. So tell me all, the good, the bad and the ugly. Beth