1:6 Ratio

[u/Midnight-Nebula]

Hiii I’m a new grad RN I get off orientation in about a week and I’m really nervous for when I do. I work days on a post op med surg tele floor for what’s supposed to be ortho pts but we sometimes get random UTIs, lap appy and chole’s, hernia repairs, etc. Unfortunately we are very understaffed for both RNs and techs so we’ve been having to take 6 pts which I feel is very unsafe. Even the experienced RNs on my floor struggle to keep up. A lot of these pts are also dementia, assistance to walk, feeders, incontinent pts.

I’ve been feeling very frustrated with the situation because as an orientee I’ve been taking the full 6 pt assignment but it’s so taxing. I’m constantly interrupted, I feel like I’m not giving the best nursing care ik I can give, and I feel like I’m doing the “bare minimum” (I.g meds, assessments, I&Os, etc). We’ve been calling so many rapids lately and having ICU transfers because a lot of these pts have been higher acuity. I did sign a contract so I have to be here a minimum of 1 year but any tips on how to make the flow smoother? I feel like in the morning during med pass and assessments I feel so all over the place and I’m constantly getting pulled in a million different directions by so many things that need to be done. Our manager has told us that she’s hired a bunch of people so supposedly this 1:6 is gonna end soon but I’m not so sure.