Unsafe ICU staffing/ patient ratios! Please help!

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I currently work in the ICU for a hospital in Arizona. In the last year, things have gotten very bad for the nursing staff. We go with out lunches, bathroom breaks, and RN/ Pt ratios have increased. We used to take one to two patients. Now, this has increased to 3 to 4 patients per nurse. Due to this unfortunate change, patients have self extubated themselves and medications errors have been made. We have lost very experienced RN's to other hospitals as well. However, management does not seem to care and uses registry or travel nurses to fill the gaps. Nonetheless, the new hires do not decrease the burden and workload on the staff. I just don't understand why the hospital is not hiring more RN's. Why is management making this environment so unsafe for patients? I am at a loss as to what to do. Please help!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Bottom line-$$$$ until they are sued or have a sentinel event , these things will continue. Why I won't work acute care anymore

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Ruuunnnnnnnn!!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Follow the others. Oh, and make sure you are paid for all of those missed meal breaks.

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"Why is management making this environment so unsafe for patients? " The answer is..

To make money for the corporate masters.

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Is this legal?

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Specializes in Dialysis.
Is this legal?

If there are no mandated ratios in your state, then yes its legal. CA is only state to have mandated ratios. And facilities with unions

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4 ICU patients? Like REAL ICU patients? lololololololololol

Hop on the train to Nopeville.

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Yes, four real ICU patients!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Does your facility have step-down as well? What is their ratio?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Today, I had a long conversation with a student who didnt understand why the facility for her clinical didn't hire more nurses because they all seemed very stressed and burned out.

I told her to keep one and only one principle in mind, and everything makes sense: EVERYTHING IS ABOUT MONEY.

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Specializes in ICU.
4 ICU patients? Like REAL ICU patients? lololololololololol

Hop on the train to Nopeville.

Nopeville... I like that!

Yes, four real ICU patients!

I'd get the heck out of there. I can handle three real ICU patients, though that is one too many. Four is completely unacceptable. I've never had four and I never will - the day they try to give me four is the day I walk.

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