pt. acuity/ratio on tele floors?

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hi cards nurses. just out of curiosity and reading the pt ratios i work on a floor that has 1-7/8 pts with cardizem, integrilin,heparin, dopa. the floor 'feel's heavy and the turnover rate is pretty high. we also get 24hr post cabg and same day stents and caths. for all you experienced cardiac rn's-i know cardiac nursing is challenging but i see alot of posts on l1:4/5 pts, but does 7/8 pts -that sound a bit too much? :paw:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU, SNF.
hi cards nurses. just out of curiosity and reading the pt ratios i work on a floor that has 1-7/8 pts with cardizem, integrilin,heparin, dopa. the floor 'feel's heavy and the turnover rate is pretty high. we also get 24hr post cabg and same day stents and caths. for all you experienced cardiac rn's-i know cardiac nursing is challenging but i see alot of posts on l1:4/5 pts, but does 7/8 pts -that sound a bit too much? :paw:

A bit much? Are you doing primary care or part of a team? If it's primary I am very sorry. It sounds a lot like my floor, but they've really worked to drop our ratios, they were finding (I think...) that having extra nurses works out to be cheaper in the long run than burning out nurses and having to train new ones and utilize the float pool more. Days we're running 3-4, nights 4-5. More of the lower than the higher, and honestly it is heaven-sent.:bow: Personally I think it's unsafe to have such a high load on such a high acuity floor. We're trying to actually care for the patient rather than do medication drive-bys.

Good luck!

Tom

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Days we get 4, sometimes 5 if we've had a call-out. Nights usually gets 4-5.

7 to 8 patients is just plain crazy!!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

That's not only 'a bit much', that is UNSAFE. Seven or eight patients on titratable drips? It's a disaster just begging to happen.

RUN, do not walk away from this job as quickly as you can find something less insane. If the turnover rate on that unit is high, you can bet your sweet bippy there's a really good reason for it. Don't risk your license---get out while you still have one!

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I work in the Cardiac cath lab but often float to the floor when we are not busy. I honestly can not imagine that many patients at one time. I think 5 has been the max for me. I really feel 3-4 patients is appropriate and safe. I agree that medications "drive by's" are not safe and ineffective.

WE are still fighting to keep 3-4 the ratio but having a lot of difficulty. I would really like to see some guidelines and criteria like ICU has to keep our ratios low. I understand that ICU critera are mostly if they have a cardiac arrest or are on a vent. It would be nice to have some critera for our patients! If anyone has info on this let me know!

Our patients are CHF, post CABG and vavles, pre and post EP and cath, several drips too everything but Levo. One night I had 5 patients and one of them was post CABG and had a muscle flap, had two chest tubes to suction, three J/P's, tracheostomy, VRE, MRSA and PEG tube with constant feeding. Oh and a PICC line. That's crazy!

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Specializes in PCU/Tele.

Sounds like the floor I 'ran' away from when I was in Florida. I also worked at a magnet in Florida where the ratios were much more reasonable at 4:1 or 5:1...

Now I'm in California, and the ratios are state mandated.

I agree....run! :bugeyes:

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How do you like the ratios? Do they work for you? Yeah, this is a "magnet" hospital but I see it fading fast, I am really wanting to have this ratio, and I am going to continue to push for it.

~Lisa

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hi cards nurses. just out of curiosity and reading the pt ratios i work on a floor that has 1-7/8 pts with cardizem, integrilin,heparin, dopa. the floor 'feel's heavy and the turnover rate is pretty high. we also get 24hr post cabg and same day stents and caths. for all you experienced cardiac rn's-i know cardiac nursing is challenging but i see alot of posts on l1:4/5 pts, but does 7/8 pts -that sound a bit too much? :paw:

My Floor is just like yours with the same rotten staffing, every one is leaving. Once we got our magnet renewed the staffing ratios changed. I've been a nurse for almost 20 years and I am overwhelmed I can't imagine being a new nurse in this situation. I had an MI just after Christmas and while I am sure most of it was because I was a heavy smoker, still some had to do with stress!!!!

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Specializes in PCU/Tele.

I have to say that on a day to day basis, the ratios are definately working out for me in California, but then again, as I was reminded just this week... at times, it doesn't matter how many patients you have on your team when one goes bad!

I came out to California on a travel assignment, sort of test driving the whole ratios.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I work with mostly PTCA/stent, arrhythmia, CHF, pulmonary, and typically have four. Five is a lot. Six or seven would be crazy.

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We have 6-7 with a nurse's aide who has 13 patients and can usually never be found. You nurses that have 4-5 is that with or without a nurse's aide?

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
We have 6-7 with a nurse's aide who has 13 patients and can usually never be found. You nurses that have 4-5 is that with or without a nurse's aide?

With a CNA that has 12-15 and can never be found. Lately we've had a lot of float CNAs that don't know how to put tele on the patients and don't know anything about post intervention care.

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