Typical nurse to patient ratio on travel assignment

[AliciaRN]

Hey y'all

I'll be taking my first travel assignment in June in California.

I've read a lot of posts from travelers with their "horrendous experience of taking on 9 patients"

On my unit I'm on, we regularly take 7 patients, I have taken 8 before, so if 9 is as bad as it gets I'm feeling pretty good about this! haha

Just wondering what y'all have experienced to be a typical patient load in some states... CA? NY? and others
and whats the MOST patients you've had to take on?

Thanks!

[AmandaWIRN]

This all depends on your specialty. For med/surg, 9 patients isn't too bad, but for ER, peds, etc, 9 patients is insane! The nurse/patient ratios in CA are state-mandated. I'm not sure what the ratio is for med/surg, but for ER, you cannot have more than 4 patients assigned to you- which is really good.

[Anmutasc]

If you go to california, then you will have a great ratio. The state mandate is that in ICU only 2 max, telemetry 4 max, and med-surg 5 max. The hospital i work in is Scripps Green in La Jolla and the telemetry floor never takes more than 3 patients. Its so nice! I know other hospitals that its similar. California is great, enjoy your travels

[Kdog]

New York has high pt ratios. But where ever you go, make sure you find out abut the ratio and put it in your contract. Some nurse managers tell the truth up front and others just tell you what you want to hear.
9 is way to many on any shift

[AliciaRN]

Sweet! 5 max!??! or 4 max on Tele!?!?
And I'll be getting paid more to do the same job!
Man I can't wait for this!
Thanks for the input y'all!
NY is my next stop after CA... hope I don't get too spoiled and lose my super-efficient skills

[AvidExplorer]

You will be fine in CA. I am about to go back out there myself. Ratios are a wonderful thing. I did a four-wk ICU contract in northern CA, was renewed several times, and wound up getting my own apt, doing agency/registry work & stayed two more years. My first night working in CA I told everyone there "I feel like I have died and gone to nursing Heaven". A charge nurse, TWO cnas, a unit clerk, the physicians answer their calls,and adequate staffing, NONE of which we had in MS in the unit I worked there. Working in CA reminded me of why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place. Good luck to you, and GO TO YOSEMITE while you are there. It's the most beautiful place on the planet, I believe.:23:

[AliciaRN]

Its cuz they've got all those unions to demand it of the hospitals... good ole ratios. haha.

and Yosemite, eh? I shall add it to my lengthly agenda Thanks for the tip!