Rehab Nursing, Not a good fit?

[jacesmom22]

I've been an LPN for 10 years, 8 of those as a Director of an Adult Day program doing administrative tasks. I just started a new job on a Rehab floor for patients recovering from knee, hip, heart surgery. There are 22 patients to 2 LPN's, 2 CNA's and 1 Med Aide. We are responsible for admissions, discharges, assessments, treatments (wound care, breathing tx's, insulin...), new Dr. orders, lab work, answering call lights and supervising the other staff. I'm very overwhelmed and realize I've lost most of my nursing skills. I want to give my notice tomorrow but afraid I'm giving up too easy. Do you think the nurse to patient ratio is too high? Are they expecting too many tasks for 2 Lpn's, or is that the norm? The nurses never leave on time and work 1-2 hours overtime just to get their charting and other tasks done. Please help!! I need some advice and know I'm not just over-reacting. Thank you in advance!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Are they expecting too many tasks for 2 Lpn's, or is that the norm?

That's better than the norm in many places. 22 residents between two of you equates to 11 pts per LPN. When I did this kind of rehab as an LPN, I typically had 15 to 17 on day shift, and up to 34 on night shift.

I lasted for almost a year, but quit because the situation seemed like a bottomless pit that kept me perpetually trapped.

[Nica-RN, RN]

Up to 22 on the skilled nursing floor with admissions and all the orders, treatments, labs... I never left in time and I never was done. Cause this was just me and two CNAs.

On the LTC floor now i have 28 residents and also two CNAs. Once getting used to the people, I am done in time.

Maybe you should wait another two or three weeks just to see if there is any change or not. If you see no improvement for yourself, you still can give your notice.

[maire, ASN, RN]

I've worked at a SNF in a hospital for almost 9 years, and except for a brief period of time where my shift was staffed by 3 RNs and 2 PCTs/CNAs, it's always been a 6-10 patient assignment on the 3-1130p shift. I rarely leave on time, especially when there are admissions (I'm often there until 1am finishing up the "required" documentation). When there were 3 of us, it was glorious. Budget cuts killed us.