# of residents in LTC

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I'm curious: how many residents do nurses here take care of daily? My med pass at full census has 32 residents of various levels of care. All of 'em take too many meds of course :-) There are some staffing changes being made and we may start only having about 21 residents per nurse which seems like a dream! Whats the norm?

Specializes in LTC.

Well I think that was good. I recently quit were I was working, I worked 10-6 and had 86 res. a night and 3-4 CNA's and the facility management knew it was wrong but would do nothing about it. They said if anyone were ever to ask, the other nurse in the rehab unit was responsible for some of those that I was taking care of, do it looked good on paper. The Rehab. nurse had any where from 18-30 skilled med A res. themselves with only 2 aides......

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I work 215 to 1045 and have 25-30 residents with meds, bs, and treatments. I also work the 1030-700am shift and then have 45 residents. Always a good day when I can get the med aide :yeah:

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I would say I have around 30-35 residents. Depending how many meds they take each med pass takes about an hour.

I'm late to this discussion, but, seriously, one hour for 30-35 residents? I'm guessing that means that not all of those patients actually receive meds during the 1 hour med pass referred to. Otherwise, even if you pre-poured all the meds and didn't document til after finishing the entire pass, I don't see how it's humanly possible!

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I'm late to this discussion, but, seriously, one hour for 30-35 residents? I'm guessing that means that not all of those patients actually receive meds during the 1 hour med pass referred to. Otherwise, even if you pre-poured all the meds and didn't document til after finishing the entire pass, I don't see how it's humanly possible!

I agree. I have 44 residents on day shift and all take considerable meds. Three are peg tubes. Many, if not most, are crushed and they all have inhalers, eye drops, nasal sprays, etc. Tons of narcotics are scheduled and prn. I have to do vital signs on 32 patients each morning with their med pass.

The morning med pass takes just over 3 hours and that's cutting corners by not taking all vital signs every day. I have the cart with me and my stethoscope around my neck, and a manual cuff as well, and I take vitals constantly, multi-tasking but sometimes it's just not going to happen with some of my patients every day.

(Also, I hump it nonstop, without a break).

My afternoon med pass is to 22 residents with 4 blood pressures and tons of narcotics and it takes just under 1.5 hours.

Just comparing, and I'm QUICK and EFFICIENT. Believe me, I am underpaid.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Now keep in mind that I finished training over a month ago and my first shift on my own is this weekend (6A-6:30P Sat. & Sun.). Don't think I am not nervous. I have been trying to keep preoccupied studying for Microbiology but it doesn't work always. Yes, I am continuing for my RN because I dont' see me working in LTC my whole career.

I run a facility in Massachusetts. Of the 10 nurses I have (it's a small facility) 9 of them are RNs....so just because you're an RN doesn't mean you have to leave LTC.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Whew, and I thought I was busy with 28 residents! Of course, two of them are tube-feeders and 12 are diabetics who get fingersticks and sliding-scale insulin at 1700 and 2100 as well as PRN, but I also have a med aide and a CNA I share with another wing, plus 2 dedicated CNAs for my wing. Most days I'm able to complete all my duties with minimal difficulty and even spend some quality time on skin assessments, so I really can't complain.....I've certainly had it worse.

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I run a facility in Massachusetts. Of the 10 nurses I have (it's a small facility) 9 of them are RNs....so just because you're an RN doesn't mean you have to leave LTC.

I only meant that I want to get my RN to broaden my opportunities. LPNs aren't utilized in the areas I want to work (hospitals, surgery) and the only way I can get there is to get my RN. LPNs are pretty much only used in nursing homes and offices where I live anymore. If an LPN leaves a hospital they replace them with an RN or not at all.

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Specializes in ICU & LTC.

I have worked in long term care for 6 years. I have had as many as 42 residents on day shift. Currently with a full house we have 22 apiece or 20 on medicare unit. We do all our own gtubes nebs bs, insulins, iv's, etc. We have a treatment nurse for 4 days aweek otherwise we do our own treatments too. We have no desk nurse on the ltc unit but medicare has a desk nurse. We are responsible for all md order and notifications, labs, emergencies etc. we do have management available but they are usually busy and don't help. Pm's has a desk nurse for 1/2 shift and ltc has a med nurse to help with the 5pm med pass other wise on their own. Noc's has one nurse for 40 to 44 resident apiece. Am med pass takes about 2+ hours and 5pm about 2 with 2 nurses. All others aren't too bad. 4 aides each floor days and pm's 2 at noc.

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