So how many pts do you have?????

Nicky30, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Very very small country hospital (19 bed hospital).

About a week ago on a late shift we had 15 patients, two LPN's and myself.

Two patients were having blood transfusions, 3 end stage palliative care the rest your general mix of medical patients (no surg) IVAB's etc.

I was also running our small ER department. Yes I had an ambulance come through our door at 1800. We have no doctor coverage after 1800 (after this time they must go to another hospital). ?CVA well, I had to admit and transfer this pt to get him to medical treatment. ASAP.

Why oh why did they not take this patient straight to the larger hospital given the time and the fact I had no doctor. :madface:

None of us got a meal break that night and we all ended up doing overtime.

The next time I went to work, they all said gee you look tired. :banghead:

Nic.

ilstu99 · Apr 2, 2008

:typingJust wondering, how many pts do you have? Type unit? With or without techs/aids? Do you your break/lunch? Most of the time? Never?

Critical 1:1, Acuity level High - 1:2, Acuity level Medium - 1:3

NICU

With. They save me a HUGE amount of time in the things I "never seem to have time for." They can't do a lot of direct care, but when I have a baby that really just needs some cuddling....I wish I was a tech again.

Most of the time I attempt an actual break. Usually, I end up cutting it short...but at least we tried!!!!

A friend of mine works med-surg on nights, with no tech. She'll have anywhere from 7 to 12 patients! No breaks for her. No thank you. :bowingpur

MikeyJ, RN · Apr 2, 2008

The nurses on the pediatrics floor I work max out with 6 patients. Rarely they will give a nurse 7 -- but that is rare. This is for days and nights.

There is usually 1 or 2 CNA's, but some nights there are none or the CNA may be required to sit if we have a 1:1 precautions patient awaiting placement at a psych facility.

I work on a 30 bed floor.

phoebebrat, ASN · Apr 2, 2008

I worked in a sm. town hospital with 20 beds on med/surg. During the busy season day nurses would have on avg. 3 pts. with 4 being the most. They also had a pool nurse. Night shift would have an avg. of 4-6pts. each with one tech. During the slower season it wasn't unusual for a night nurse to have 3 pts., sometimes 2, and with 1 tech. Day nurses always had fewer pts. That is the one thing I will miss about that place.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

I work in a level 1 trauma center. I work in the neurosurg ICU, typically I get breaks but I usually cut them short. Some days we have 1 or 2 techs, the only day we have no tech is Tuesday due to them all being in school.

Our usual ratio is 1 rn to 2 patients if stable, 1 rn to 1 patient if critical. If patients are awaiting transfer to a general unit and are stable they are able to be 3 pt to 1 rn.

My unit is also 16 beds.

Agnus · Apr 2, 2008

I work a floor that is combination med surg and peds and oncology. If i have just med surg pts i have no more than 5.

If I have even 1 peds pt I have no more than 4 total. Even then sometimes we have peds pts that have acuities that require either no more than 2 or three.

if even one onconology pt then like peds never more than 4 and

some times 1:1 with oncology or peds.

If we have really serious peds then we do not take them on out unit. So even the 1:1 are not ICU patients.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Apr 2, 2008

Med-surg/tele, 46 beds. Nights max 8 pts to 1 RN. 2-3 aides and a secretary. Lunch is grab and eat while you chart.

Days up to 5pts. 6 aides, 2 secretaries. Plus, many students.

jessiern, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

I work days, usually 4-5 patients. Last few months it been crazy busy, and I've been up to 9, but that is way out of the norm. It's starting to settle back down.

Usually have a tech, and usually do get a lunch. Our admin. like to keep us staffed well so that we can provide the best care for our patients. And I appreciate taht. :)

KeechieSan · Apr 2, 2008

:typingJust wondering, how many pts do you have?
Type unit?
With or without techs/aids?
Do you your break/lunch? Most of the time? Never?
Next???????
Thank you for your input.

Hmm lets see.

1) I usually have 4-6 patients. Four patients in the more "acute" pod and 6 in the less. But, it really doesn't make a difference, they'll put whatever patient in whatever pod, so lately we've been having six very acute patients to one nurse. Niiiice huh?

2) I work on a PCU/IMC/Cardiac Step-down unit. It is supposed to be CHF, AFIB, MI's ect... but we have a lot of medsurg overflow.

3) We have an aide. Their ratios are 1:8 or 1:10, depending what pod.

4) I never take lunch. I do grab 2-3 five minute breaks to take a walk off the floor, so I consider that my lunch. I don't eat at work, ever. I can't eat at night!

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

I work in a 30 bed tele unit with some of the beds designated as IMC/step-down. The tele ratio is 4:1 and the IMC ratio is 3:1, I've never seen a nurse go over ratio as we are lucky to have lots of floating going on around our unit. We also have a lot of people work overtime!! At nights we have 1 monitor tech, 0 aides. Days have 1 monitor tech, 1 secretary, and 1-2 aides. I'm pretty sure we always get lunches (at least I have) because our charge is supposed to cover us (our charge doesn't take patients unless it's absolutely necessary to maintain our ratios). I love my unit, I think I'm lucky to work there!

not now, RN · Apr 2, 2008

When I worked med/surg we had 36 beds and seven nurses. We all took patients on nights (even the lead) but days had a free team lead. We had five patients but one person had to take six because of the number of beds. I always took lunch and my breaks no matter how busy it was. There was no teamwork. Not because we didn't want to help but because we couldn't. We had a unit clerk until 10PM and three aids until 2:30AM (unless it was crazy busy and the house supervisor had to approve). I hated the aide situation because they were struggling every shift.

Now on ICCU it depends on the patient. If I have a vent I'll have two or a vent and a BIPAP or some other complex patient. If not I'll have three patients tops. I never go over my ratio. We have one unit clerk, one monitor tech and three aids. The aide situation still sucks but at least I have time to help them. The teamwork is outstanding. I always have plenty of help and plenty of time to help. I always take lunch.