I live in a medium- small town in Pacific northwest but the nursing shortage has finally had its effect on us also. I want to know what your hospitals have done to adjust staffing,or address this problem. We are supposed to have 1 or 2 patients/RN in ICU but the hospital is so full that we often have medical or PCU overflow patients and will have 2 ICU and a medical floor patient and the charge nurse will start with either Med/PCU patient or get and ICU admit or 2. Nights will have 3 ICU patients and sometimes days. The hospital will not close beds. The nurses are so upset hospital wide that over the last several months the union was approached and has a majority support and we are getting close to a vote. Is this the way to go? we frequently work hours over and do not get lunch or breaks.