Pt ratios and Team Nursing

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Hey!

I work on a neuro step down unit. We have just increased our ratios to 5:1 from 4:1 for 24 pts. We have one aid on days and sometimes they have an aide on nights. And one charge nurse who doesn't take patients. Our medical patients are much more sicker than the step down. It seems we receive the sickest medical patients and step down as well. Anywhere from abd surgery (tpn/lipids/jp's/ngt/foley), chest pain (heprin gtt/nitro gtt/cardioverting/receiving blood), neuro surgeries (lami, pliff, acdf, craniotomy, metrix, corpectomy), mental status change (combative, crawling out of bed ALL the time, retraints), total cares (nursing home patients. terminal diagnosis) just to name the most recent things.

We are DROWNING. the pt turnover is crazy with multiple admits (can be up to 4-5) coming within one hr after we have had like 3 d/c or something along those lines. People are having to stay until 10p/10a just to chart. Some not sitting down all shift.

I am trying to find a solution/reasoning for this issue. Anyone have any input on team nursing if it works for them or if it is such a waste? Or on their patio ratios? I feel like something is going to happen and we will be up a creek without a paddle cause of injury/death/or whatever.

Thanks!!!

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