thenightnurse456 324 Posts Apr 7, 2014 I don't work in LTAC but if you search on the LTACH forum you'll find many stories of ridiculous nurse to patient ratios. Like 1:8, full assist patients with trachs/vents, blood transfusions, TPN, complex wound care.It sounds brutal! You'd learn a tonne though!
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN 4 Articles; 20,908 Posts Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma. Has 43 years experience. Apr 7, 2014 Around 6-8 days.....depending on who you work for and acuity. These are sick patients. You will learn a TON but you will work very hard
Junebug59, RN 217 Posts Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR. Has 43 years experience. Apr 10, 2014 I had 26 one night...... this is LTC. Still a ridiculous amount.... there was no way I could finish, and I never even got a dinner break.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN 5,047 Posts Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro. Has 16 years experience. Apr 11, 2014 The LTACH I worked for gave us 4-5 on days; sometimes we had 3 and an admit bed. I don't know how 6-8 works, b/c 4-5 was brutal. Especially in the big wound wing. Some of those dressing changes took 2 hours!
Cindycin37, ASN, RN 44 Posts Apr 16, 2014 Work in SNF and I have at least 12-15 patients. Is this normal?
readytobeanurse 30 Posts Apr 17, 2014 i have started work. I have my last day of training today. I have 16 patients its pretty brutal. but you do what you have to do. I don't plan on staying here past a year this is just to get nursing experience.
KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN 1,641 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg/urology. Apr 19, 2014 I had an interview at a ltac in North Carolina and the day shift typically had 5. Looking back on it, that would have been overwhelming for me as a new grad.
dableaper 6 Posts Specializes in LTC. May 13, 2014 I have worked at an LTAC for 7 years, and you either love it or hate it. I love that my patients stay for 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months depending on their issues. RNs tote 4-5 patients and LPNs tote 5-6. RNs can be 1:2 or 1:3 with vents or higher acuity patients. ICU nurses can't do what LTAC nurses do and vice versa. I love the variety of nursing skills required and time with the patients.
RN2012RN 3 Posts May 17, 2014 I've been working LTAC for 6 months on midnights and average 3-5 patients.
SquishyRN, BSN, RN 518 Posts Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC. Has 13 years experience. May 17, 2014 I work at an LTACH with Med-Surg/Telemetry units and an ICU. No more than 1:5 for regular Med-Surg patients, and 1:4 if they are telemetry. Can be up to 10 if teamed up with an LVN. Up to 9 if a team with telemetry, but no more than 4 of those 9 can be telemetry. No more than 1:2 in our ICU.P.S. I'm in California, so there are mandated ratios.
mouseynurse 25 Posts Has 3 years experience. May 27, 2014 Days typically had 4, 5 was pushing it.... Ours were typically either trach/peg or complex wound care. On nights it was usually 5-6. Charge took 1-3 depending on acuity. This was at a major for-profit LTACH.
