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?

Specializes in Med Surg.

On our floor, only those on post op day 1 are considered fresh. I work nights and have anywhere from 4 to 6 patients, depending on the acuity and the charge nurse (some of our charges take more patients than others). Day shift has a similar ratio.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

Telemetry floor here. Days has 1:6, nights 1:8 although it's usually no more than 6 ever. However, sometimes the 6 you started with are all discharged and by the end you have 6 different patients. Usually a LPN if there are 6 or more patients per nurse. 1 PCA at night even if all 24 beds taken, 1:8 for techs on days.

When we start pulling sheaths (sometime this year) we will be 1:4 days & nights.

I enjoy our ratios usually. Biggest turnover in the hospital though.

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Specializes in NICU.

Dude, even so, with that kind of acuity, even on Rehab at the nursing home I used to work at, the ratio was 1 RN-5-7 and the CNAs were 1-15. I can't imagine being responsible for 53 patients who have the acuity described above with only 2-3 CNAs to help. That's insanity and any place that would do that, I NEVER want to be, and I never want one of my family members there either.

Something is gonna get missed in a situation like that and not only will someone lose their license, but a patient will be harmed in the process. SCARY.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Day's and PM's the max is 1:6.

Night's the max is 1:7.

I work on an ortho/neuro/trauma/general surgical floor.

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Specializes in LTC.

42:usually 2. ;)

plus 3-4 aides.

i work in LTC>

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I usually have 4 or 5.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Days and nights 1:5 max. with 2 CNA for work between 5 nurses. On the average it may be 3. Not too bad and I don't complain. I can't believe hospitals still run 6 plus pts on day shift. I worked in a facility like that and it was hard. Some days we would completely turn over the floor.

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We get 6 or 7 pts. each and they are heavy for the most part. We have 2-3 techs on night shift. We get a lot of admissions that belong on other floors but they have no room so send them to us. Lots of isolation pts. and confused people as well. No unit secretary and the charge nurse often takes patients.

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When I worked in Kentucky, the ratio was 1:4 tele and 1:5 med surg. 24/7. It was upheld pretty well, too.

Now I work in Florida, where I've had as many as 8 on nights. I think 1:6 is most common on both shifts.

It's a good thing I love the beach so much or I'd be running back to my unbelievable ratios!

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I work on a floor with a mix of neurology, trauma, and surgical (mainly neuro, urology, GYN) patients.

1:5 on days. 1:6 on nights. We are fighting for better ratios, not like we'll win though.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, Chemo.

What state do you live in? California? 1 tech to 10 pts is familiar. You've got a good spot! I hired on in texas I thought it was 1-5 but lately its 1-6 and 1 tech to 12 pts. A unit secretary will be on the unit just to round and see if there is a stack of orders to enter.

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The tele floor where I am hoping to start next month has 30 beds is 1:5 days, 1:6 nights with techs at 1:10, plus a unit secretary and charge nurse who does not take patients.

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