Re: nursing duties and nurse/pt. ratio

[supernurse1230]

it does vary depending on the facility, however, i am currently working at a facility where the census is around 70-75 and they staff 2 nurses on day and 2 on evenings, and one on nights so i usually have anywhere from 40-45, inluding up to 10 skilled residents, (within those 40-45) and i dont have any ivs, but i usually chart on about 20 charts, treatments, meds, answ, phone, supervising cnas, body audits, and summaries, so dont feel alone, it is next to impossible and i get very frustrated, and i have been doing ltc as an lpn for 7 years, my 8 hour shift typically turns into a 9-10 hour shift easily if something goes out of the norm (which it generally does), it is a sad but all too common complaint for alot of ltc nurses

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I work the 16 hour weekend double shift (every Sat. and Sun. from 0600 to 2200).

I have 38 residents with 5 CNAs and 1 medication aide who passes all pills, oral liquids, and eye drops.

I complete the required charting and paperwork, obtain finger stick blood sugars, give injections, apply topical creams and ointments, perform dressing changes and wound care, administer breathing treatments and oxygen, take off newly written physician orders, and assess residents as needed.

[mondkmondk]

I work evenings...currently on my wing there are about 39 residents. We have 4 CNA's, a med tech, and me. I do all my own vitals and assessments on about 10 skilled residents; I pass all scheduled and prn narcs; I do about 4 accu checks and insulins; I do all the neb. tx's; we have one G tube res.; I do any and all treatments that are scheduled; I take off orders/charting; I supervise my aides/med tech. I have plenty of time. My residents, I am proud to say, get excellent care. I am picky about where I work...I want to work in a place that is notorious for giving good care. We only had 2 nursing deficiencies when state last came. I just want to say, if you are so unhappy with your ratios and where you are at, be choosy and find another place to work instead of constantly ********.

Blessings, Michelle

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I work the 16 hour weekend double shift (every Sat. and Sun. from 0600 to 2200).

I have 38 residents with 5 CNAs and 1 medication aide who passes all pills, oral liquids, and eye drops.

I complete the required charting and paperwork, obtain finger stick blood sugars, give injections, apply topical creams and ointments, perform dressing changes and wound care, administer breathing treatments and oxygen, take off newly written physician orders, and assess residents as needed.

You have the best LTC staffing I've ever heard of.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I work evenings...currently on my wing there are about 39 residents. We have 4 CNA's, a med tech, and me. I do all my own vitals and assessments on about 10 skilled residents; I pass all scheduled and prn narcs; I do about 4 accu checks and insulins; I do all the neb. tx's; we have one G tube res.; I do any and all treatments that are scheduled; I take off orders/charting; I supervise my aides/med tech. I have plenty of time. My residents, I am proud to say, get excellent care. I am picky about where I work...I want to work in a place that is notorious for giving good care. We only had 2 nursing deficiencies when state last came. I just want to say, if you are so unhappy with your ratios and where you are at, be choosy and find another place to work instead of constantly ********.

Blessings, Michelle

You also have great staffing ratios. If I could have found a job with that kind of staffing, I would have stayed in LTC.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

41 residents....2 licensed days and evenings plus a nurse manager on days.

5 CNAs on days 4 on evenings.

And they complain they are too busy.

[misschiatia]

You have the best LTC staffing I've ever heard of.

I tend to agree with valerie. My home has 67 residents in the building. Our lowest staffing ratio is on NOCs when we try to staff 2 nurses and 4 cnas. At the very least we have a nurse a cmt and 3 cnas.

[MarvinMartian]

In one building we have 30 patients. The nurse who does all the supervising, charting, family contact and doctor/pharmacy contact and assessments. Me, the med tech who does all the v/s, fingersticks and meds including drawing and admining the insulins. Plus 3 aides on the day shift. Same for evening and night has 1 nurse and 2 CNAs.

Our other building has 48 patients, 1 RN supervisor, 2 nurses and 6 CNAs on days. Nurses do the meds, treatments, v/s etc. RN helps with treatments, handles any orders, pharmacy, family, etc. Same goes on evenings and nights has 2 LPNs and 4 CNAs.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

Wow...I'm usually the RN in charge, with a LPN also. 45-49 residents with 1-2 IVs, required to due all daily treatments and injections/eyedrops are due at 0600. Supervising CNAs, usually I have about 20-21 total residents, but I have to do the little side work, crash carts, lab slips, charting etc...but we work 12 hr shifts.