Staff- Patient Ratios

[skyanurse]

Research project on staff- patient ratios in short term rehabilitation facilities. So at this one facility, if the census is low, then they only put so many nurses on day shift and so many nurses on night shift, which is understandable and it makes perfect sense. However, nurses are coming and then quiting the job because they feel like they are understaffed. Night shift nurses are often on two to three carts that serve about 10 people with each cart.

Does anyone have any articles that are within the last 5 years talking about how this is a problem or ways to fix it?

Does anyone have any solutions to fix this? Adding more CNAs, adding more nurses? Coming up with a solution so there nurse satisfaction, patient safety and patient satisfaction?

I feel like this is affecting patient safety including medication administration in a timely manner, managing their pain as well as key medications like insulin and warfarin. This affects patient safety in terms of falls, if patients feel like they can't wait any longer to use the bathroom.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Does anyone have any articles that are within the last 5 years talking about how this is a problem or ways to fix it?.

I assume this is for school, as you are requesting articles from the last 5 years. Part of your degree is learning how to do research, including how to find articles from reputable, peer-reviewed journals. If we just gave you the articles, you wouldn't really be learning how to do independent research. Good luck on your paper!

[BentHalo]

The staffing situation at the SNF/Rehab that I work has become so desperate, they're asking if any of us nurses (LPNs & RNs) would consider working as CNAs..The legal ramifications of that are VERY RISKY on MORE than 1 level!!!

Should an emergency arise,at what level of professionalism, responsibility are you going to be held accountable?!!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If nurses are quitting, and they say its because there isn't enough staff, then the solution would be to get more staff, immediately. They can do research and trial new ways of doing things later, because all those changes are going to put new stress on already stressed workers. It's easy to trial hire a stocking clerk, for example, for six months, while they are thinking. One temporary stocking clerk is cheaper than even onemore RN quitting.