"Only" four patients yet so crazy!!!!!!!

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

What a weekend I had! I had nutty days both Sat and Sun on my 3-11 PM shift. I had 4 pts each time, but they had soooooo much going on that it was so overwhelming. I did not take a break Sat. Sun, I just took a 10 min break, if that. I asked for help and got some, but it barely made a dent in my work load. I was up to my eyeballs in telemetry readings, blood sugar checks, CIWAs & VS every 2 hrs on my drug withdrawal pt, confused patients who were jumping out of bed every second, a code, demanding family members all around, TFs, PICCs, blood transfusions, soooooo many meds, IV fluids, dealing with multiple fevers at the same time, and everything else that could possibly happen, plus I'm helping the LPN I'm working with-doing things like initial assessments and IV pushes on her pts. Oh my! I feel pretty competent as an RN after 2 years. But geez! What an assignment!

[Nursebarebari]

christvs,

if your assignment was that crazy on saturday, then it should have been rotated to a different nurse on sunday. Also, the LPN should have shadowed a different nurse on the second day. The charge nurse also have the option of switching some of the patients to other nurses.

poor you, i know how felt that day, i have been there.

[talondora1]

In our hospital we make a practice of letting the Charge nurse know not to assign patients with too many issues all at once to a nurse. Example: Divide up the load more evenly when possible. Perhaps you could suggest this?

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

It boils down to acuity. Amazing that only 4 can keep you so busy. Shoot, we could all probably handle 6 or 7 walkie-talkie's... It does seem the patients are getting sicker. I long for the uncomplicated, no history, no home meds s/p lap chole

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I have days like that. It seems they are getting more frequent also. But,, the second day it usually gets better because you are prepared going in for what you have to do. The first day of that usually is chaotic trying to get organized. To change teams would be worse i think.

[azor]

Is med-surg floor this busy?I actually will be starting in med-surg floor with 4:i patient-nurse ratio.Help me oh Lord!!!

[ginger58, ASN, RN]

Been there, done the four and it can be absolutely awful. I don't know how you did all that without collapsing mid-day!!

Next time tell the charge nurse to take the LVN.

I'm a young 60 and retired in March and I've never felt better and my B/P is down! I praise all of you that keep on taking some of this abuse.