Who should make patient assignments??

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am curious who makes patient assignments on your units. Particularly, new pt assignments. Pts arriving to the floor after shift start. Is it your Director, your Charge Nurse, or you HUC/Unit secretary? Please include why or why not you think it is appropriate for that person to make patient assignments.

Also, do you believe that it would be appropriate/safe for a HUC/Unit secretary to make patient assignments? Why or why not?


I have included a poll.


Thanks in advance. Last edit by D.R.A. on Feb 6, '14 : Reason: add info
Assignments should be based on acuity.

Yes, I agree. Who should make them?

On my floor the charge nurse does, I think that is how it should be as a charge nurse my self I always get the input from the other nurses due to working night shift I have my own team so I don't always know what is going on with the other patients

On my unit the charge nurse does but we can tell her if we don't want the same patient twice (if they are needy or time consuming) and things get adjusted. The HUC or secretary is not a clinician and shouldn't decide acuity.....so no way

I completely agree. Let me add, how would you feel about the HUC making new pt assignments to nurses, including the charge, based on her assessment of how many pts each nurse should have, and that assessment being based solely on numbers and having nothing to do with acuity?

Quote from D.R.A.I completely agree. Let me add, how would you feel about the HUC making new pt assignments to nurses, including the charge, based on her assessment of how many pts each nurse should have, and that assessment being based solely on numbers and having nothing to do with acuity?

I couldn't agree more. To expand a bit, as a charge, do you feel you can have adequate scope of the entire floor while caring for 6 pts of your own?

Technically by most nurse practice acts the nursing assignment of patients must be performed by a RN. While the charge nurse needs to have an assignment....especially these days.....administration is not seeing it that way. I am firmly in the camp the the charge nurse needs to have a lesser assignment.

Quote from D.R.A.I couldn't agree more. To expand a bit, as a charge, do you feel you can have adequate scope of the entire floor while caring for 6 pts of your own?

I actually prefer working as an aide when I charge. May sound crazy, but it gives me the maximum patient interaction which is what I am after. I always feel like I am well informed when an aide calls in and I have to fill in.

Quote from D.R.A.I couldn't agree more. To expand a bit, as a charge, do you feel you can have adequate scope of the entire floor while caring for 6 pts of your own?

For critical care whether it be ICU or PCU the charge takes 1 patient usually and helps fill in for breaks. Other than that they are way too busy.