Resident nurse ratio question

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I need some feed back please. I am a nurse at a LTC facility. I was told today that I have to be the nurse/aide for 13 residents. Only one can toilet themselves. So this would mean that I would need to give showers, get residents dressed and washed up for the day, toileted, change bedding, give meds, do treatments, write orders, pass room trays, deal with families, deal with doctors, and anything else that is thrown at me for the day. Is this doable?? I am just being a baby? I feel like these resident deserve better. I am only one person.....I can understand doing this for 5 to 6 residents but 13? Any feed back welcome!!

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Specializes in Long-term/Geriatrics, Home Health.

When I was a CNA, I was lucky if I had only 13 residents. A lot of the time, especially when we were short, I would have between 16-18 patients. And that included showers, documentation, meals, etc. A few times I had 21 patients!!! Talk about stretched thin.

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whatdidigetmyselfin2 yes the CNA has alot to do and so does the nurse.......mixing the 2 into one job seems crazy to me!!!
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Specializes in Long-term/Geriatrics, Home Health.

I guess in my delerium I didn't completely read this post. :singing: I don't know how that would work. There are specific medication administration times and it just seems unsafe to me to go between the two roles.

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No, you are not being a baby. That is crazy and unreasonable. Giving meds, doing treatments, writing orders, dealing with families and doctors will take up all your time. I don't think this is doable!! I doubt you will have any time left to help anyone to the toilet much less help them dress or bathe.

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RedCarnation and whatdidigetmyselfin2 thank you guys.
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Definitely, not reasonable!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in ER I/CCU Cath lab LTC.

You are NOT being a baby! What reason were you given for this change? I wouldn't be able to get all that done, no way no how. Sounds like you should start looking for another job! I just don't see how anyone could get all that done in anything but a half-a$$ manner at best. This is not fair to you or the residents.

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No, I do not think that workload is reasonable. A C.N.A. might have 10-15 patients to care for (with the help of a float C.N.A. assisting with baths or lifts) but for a nurse to have all the med responsibilities, orders, phone calls, etc. along with all the ADL cares I don't think is safe.

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On day shift, I could not even handle six for ADL when I was a CNA. Heaven forbid I have to add seven more residents and the nurse duties too.

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I'm with the consensus here..I barely have enough time to be a nurse in LTC. Do they really think that by cutting your resident assignment in half makes up for giving you a whole new title??

How in the world can you bathe, dress and administer meds to 13 residents on time before breakfast??!!

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Thanks for all the feedback! It continues to still be a mess at work!! I am currently looking for new employment. I have been going to work and doing what I can.....it is so unfair to the Residents. I have talked to the DON and my unit manager. And all they have been telling me is that they are working on the situation. I have no clue what that means. I also told them if they want the residents showered that I would need help from one on them.....needless to say they have passed it on to the evening aides from another hall. It is so disappointing to be apart of a so called "team" that doesn't give a crap and are to lazy to help out when needed.

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