What is your nurse-patient ratio?

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I'm a new grad RN about to start on a med-surg floor. I was told that on days I will have 4-5 patients and on nights 7-8. Does this sound normal/manageable?

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Specializes in Oncology.

Where I was at I had fresh post-ops (

And my ratio was 1:53. with 2 aides, sometimes 3.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

When I interviewed for a med/surg position at a regional hospital about a year and a half ago, I was told that day shift had between 6 and 7 patients and nights would have between 7 and 8 patients.

By the way, this floor also accepted oncology overflow patients. I declined the job offer for a variety of reasons.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

That ratio on med-surg sounds typical of most hospitals. Dayshift is a lot busier than night shift with more med passes and patients needing to be fed. 8 patients sounds like too much...however, I know of some facilities where 7 to 8 patients is typical of dayshift with night shift having up to 10 patients (way unsafe). Take the job, learn, even if you don't like it get your golden year of experience. Good luck.

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1:3 during days (1:4 if short-staffed, which is somewhat rare). 1:4 overnight. I'm on a telemetry unit.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

I'm on a ~30 bed gero-med unit. Some pts are somewhat independent, most are on falls precautions (bed alarms, assist oob), and maybe a third need help with feeding and incontinence. Some ostomies, ng/peg tubes, foleys and central lines. Not much surgery. Days is 4-5 pts, nights 4-6. Days there are usually 3 techs, nights 2 (I think we're going to be getting an additional pct per shift soon).

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Specializes in NICU.
Where I was at I had fresh post-ops (

And my ratio was 1:53. with 2 aides, sometimes 3.

Where was this so I never, ever go there??

Seriously, 1 RN with 2-3 aides for 53 fresh post op patients?? Did I read that right?? How did you get anything done??

When I did Med/Surg Telemetry (and my medsurg was post-op open heart patients) we had 5-6 on days and 6-7 on nights.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Seriously, 1 RN with 2-3 aides for 53 fresh post op patients?? Did I read that right?? How did you get anything done??
This person was probably working on a Medicare rehab unit at a nursing home. Yes, nursing homes receive post-op patients due to heavy pressure to discharge from the hospital as quickly as possible.
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I work in an ICU. The nurse patient ratio is 1:2. Unless someone is on the balloon pump or a fresh open heart, than it's 1:1.

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Specializes in Med/Surg - PCU - PeriOp - CDA/Obs.

Morning...

I'm on a Med/Surg unit in Orange County NY

6:1 on days covering 2 pt's of an LPN

8:1 nights

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Psych RN, CA, 6:1 regardless of day or night or whether Hades froze over. Got to love mandated ratios...I'm going to be spoiled if/when I leave CA and look for work elsewhere :)

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Specializes in Ortho Med\Surg.

Ortho med surg 5:1, regardless of shift. Occasionally with low census we'll have 4:1 with total pt care. When all 30 beds are full, there are 3 CNAs but max ratio for pt:CNA is 15:1. I'm in CA.

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