Safe Nurse Patient Ratio

[lizzyberry]

Hello, I am a new graduate and currently working in a medsurg/tele unit on nights where the nurse patient ratio is 8 patients/1. I am not by myself yet but when I am I feel like Im going to be really overwhelmed. Is this an unsafe patient ratio? How can I manage 8 patients by myself being new and all?

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Depends.

When I worked in a small, rural hospital with moderate acuity I could manage eight patients.

Where I work now some days six is fine (maximum) and some days four run you ragged.

Just take a deep breath, and keep managing your priorities, keep organized and see. How do other newer nurses handle it? Have you talked to them about the average day/night with this load?

Best of luck!

Tait

[mykidzmom]

you can't.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

LizzyBerry , that is a bad deal... you can't do all that ... don't put your hard earned licensed in peril....our med surg unit is 6 to 1 soon to go down lower because we are increasing the RN's on the floor . lizzy you are to young to loose your mind... wait until you have 6 kids.. then loose your mind... lol...

[vivacious1healer]

Med-surgical with telemetry? and cardiac drips? yikes!!! Discuss your concerns with the nurse manager and your preceptor NOW.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

It is unsafe! If you a have an option to work someplace else, RUN before they fire you for not being able to keep up with the load or before someone gets hurt due to [fill in the blank]!

[ONCRN84]

On a regular medical floor on a bad night we had 8:1 + awesome techs and a house float to help us if necessary. Our telemetry floor was always 5:1 regardless of shift.

[guislander]

8 to 1 is difficult, but doable. I work a tele unit where our official ratio is 6-8:1. I personally have had up to 10 on sencond shift. It's not nice, but has been a good experience. Make sure you get good at doing assessments and charting. Keep track of when meds are due. I write times down the side of my clipboard. And just keep moving. After a while you do adjust so now when I have only 6, I feel like I have tons of extra time. make sure you take notes for yourself so you can chart later. Good Luck.

[neonatal_nurse]

You will really be overwhelmed when you begin, but you'll get used to it as time goes by. You will then learn how to use your nursing skills quickly, prioritize and delegate. These are the things that you must master so that you can survive the rest of your nursing career. And of course, use your decision making skills carefully. Mistakes should be avoided.

You may ask help in areas you are not familiar with, but you have to develop your own "strategies" for efficiency and effectiveness of care to your patients.

There may be times that you might not even sit or even eat, but as I've said, you will develop your own way of dealing with the work that we do. Just be attentive, check, double check, triple check orders and meds politely be honest if you do not know something.

An enthusiastic and attentive attitude will help you learn the ropes easily. Be prepared for criticisms. We've all been there so we know.

If we can do it, so can you.

Good luck! :)

[karenTRN]

Everywhere I have worked, the max was 6 days, and 7 nights. I have been "told' that I am getting the additional patient, and I have refused. you are required to state you cannot handle it, because once you accept responsibility for that patient, you are responsible. Until nurses start speaking up and refusing these crazy ratios hospitals will continue doing it. JHCO's own studies have PROVEN that when the ratio goes above 4 to 1 the patients risk of dying increase 20%. I won't take more than 6 - and if they have drips going - no more than 5. And that is absolute max.