cro7690

I too am trying to find a ratio for skilled nursing. When I was hired I was told I would never have more than 24 but my normal number about 18. Well I am coming off a 12 hour shift with 32. Thankfully I have some very good aids but the three of them and one of me had a difficult time with the range of problems my residents had. Almost all had treatments, I had someone on a vent. This was not a safe situation. We also had patients in the facility that had PICC lines running and No RN in the building (two called off). I am a newer nurse and I was highly uncomfortable with this situation. My 12 hour shift ended up being 16 and still not everything was done. I had to pass report and get myself to bed. I hope this isn't the normal out there.

I did an excellerated LPN program 9 months of pretty much just school. Luckily it was a very good school that had high standards you had to get an 84% in each class or you couldn't go on. Very intense. There were 18 in our class. We lost one person due to family issues, one failed out the first semester and we lost 4 more during our second semester. It is a lot of focus. However, of the 13 of us that graduated in January 11 have taken boards and 10 passed first try while I don't know what the last one is waiting for. In either case it is April and 9 of us have jobs already. I think that is pretty good. I will be doing the bridge to my RN, the reason I didn't do it to start out with was two fold. One I wasn't sure I could do it, and two I wanted to start working. I live in North East Ohio. I think you have to realize that you may not get your dream job to start with, it most likely won't happen at first. Learn as much as you can. You will never like poop or body fluids (if you do you need to see someone about that :)) But I will tell you I am so glad I worked hard and look forward to all the experiences I can get. I do hear nurses eat their young, so far so good for me. If you want to do it....go for it ..... I waited a long time to pursue my dream.

I guess I do not see the point of such a policy. The whole point of CPR is to keep the blood pumping to the vital organs, hoping it the heart will restart. I have never heard of such a policy. If this is truly the practice I would look elsewhere for employment because I would think your license could be in jepardy I know it would be in Ohio.