Staffing

TNValley · Mar 2, 2015

1 RN to 15 patients. Alabama. If there are more than 15 patients at a time there must be 2 RN's.

I'm fortunate to work nocturnal, so it's 15 patients (more stable than your usual dayshift patients) and 2 CCHT's with years and years of experience. Dayshift at my clinic runs 15 patients, 1 RN, 3 CCHT's because of turnover/1st-->2nd patient shift change. That 3rd tech is really really important to have to survive shift change because it almost never happens without some kind of problem.

jlautier · Mar 4, 2015

CT: it's 10 pts to 1 RN w/ 2 CCHT or 9:1 w/ 1 CCHT and 1 PCT. Typically we turn over 4 machines a shift per staff member tho.

drivesbarefoot · Mar 5, 2015

I'm a traveler and my last two assignments were great! But these were NOT the big two, that changes everything it seems. My first assignment I had up to 10 patients and 3 techs. I was responsible for doing pre and post assessments, double checking machine settings and passing meds. When it was put on or takeoff time I helped put patients on or off and when the enivitable problems cropped up there was a dedicated charge nurse who doesn't have a patient assignment and is available to help with an emergency. My next assignment I'm responsible for never more than 8 patients and again I'm expected to jump in and help take patients on and off but it's not in a mad rush manner, and no one seems to be running around like crazy trying to keep up and not get behind, everyone pitches in. Then I do assessments and pass meds. It's relatively low stress because once again there is a charge nurse who is able to lend a hand for problems that come up and both places had awesome PCTs. There is plenty of time to get the work needing to be done and we always are able to take a break. There is even time to sit down and catch up on charting in a normal non stressed manner.

When I worked for the big D and then the big F it didn't work that way. There was "the wave" model of putting patients on so it seemed like put on time and takeoff time lasted for hours, there was never any lull to regroup and get your next rest, catch up on orders or paperwork before things started happening again. This makes for very long and exhausting days when by the time you go home you don't have the satisfied feeling of "I had a good day!.... ever. That extra paperwork never got done during a normal day. Nurses were coming in on their days off to catch up on POC's and other extraneous stuff we were expected to do on a monthly basis.

it seems the nonprofit hospital run outpatient and inpatient places are the best places to work. As a traveler if I can keep going and not ever have to work for the big two ever again I think I'll remain happy in dialysis.

noelraquel · Mar 5, 2015

in cali, working for big D. official ratio on THIS clinic is 12 to 1 RN and 2 pcts. I love it at this clinic. the experienced pcts and at times annoying old school RN make up a good mix of personalities that we've learned to work together well.

yes, it is the huge wave put on and take off but as long as we're fully staffed for the day, it's not so bad. I always like jumping in and helping too because im not stuck looking at the stupid computer all day, charting..

open doors · Mar 13, 2015

Hi I'm interested in traveling nursing. I've worked for the big D for a a year. What agency are you using? I was told housing can be pretty bad sometimes. Can you please give me a little info. Thank you