What's your patient load?

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I'm still orienting but I take on about 5-6 patients. Normally we will have 6-7 sometimes 8. I work in NYC. What are the ratios in other states or hospitals? 7 patients is crazy! Granted, not all are super sick, but still, time management is one of the top skills needed, perhaps the hardest for a new nurse. Thoughts?

Specializes in CVICU/ER.

Trauma 1.

Cat1...High acuity Usually 2-3, but have had 6 when busy

Cat2...Pts don't need to be monitored, but can be sick. Usually 7, but have had as high as 20.

Cat3/peds. Laceration, ob and peds. Usually 6 or so but can be as high as 20.

MHT...Mental health....6 at the most.

I am in one of the busiest ERs in the country. It's crazy but I love it.....most of the time.

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Here in Texas, every ER I've worked in the nurses have 3-4 patients. Except the county facility, where we could have as many as 30 (gasp!)...

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Each nurse has 4 rooms with the potential for 1 hallway pt, which we frequently have.

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Within 2 hours?! Any chest pain who comes in typically has 90 min enzymes (or I think should). That seems crazy. I don't think many of our patients get out in under 2 hours.

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Specializes in ER.

Level 1 Trauma Unit 3:1 in all areas except hold area which is 4:1 and Resus Bays which are 3:2.

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I work at a very busy Level 1 Trauma in NYC and also have a union but that doesn't stop me from having 4 super critical patients (resus pts), 10-16pts to 1 nurse in a urgent area (includes chest pain, seizures, etc.). I am praying for the day I have 6-7 pts. When are we going to get that safe staffing legislation approved here?! I am waiting! This is not safe.

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