CA ED Ratio??

Specialties Emergency

Published

Is the ratio for ED's in CA really 4:1???

Coming from NYC I find that very hard to believe and thinking about a location change!! I've had 10 admitted patients one night, 2 ICU, 3 TELE another day, 15 patients another afternoon. Its starting to wear thin on me.

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You heard right. I work in a busy ED in southern California and our ratio is 4:1, less if the acuity of our patients is very high. I'm a new grad so it seems like plenty to me, but 15:1 is not safe for anyone to carry. I'm feeling very lucky all of a sudden Is traveling an option for you?

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

It's 4:1 in central ohio too - unless acuity is high, then you have less.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Suburban Philadelphia, 4:1, with a charge and one or two float nurses, and 2 techs for 20 total patients.

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

we don't have capped pt ratios in mass.but in my ed we generally have 4 pts .charge rn takes any hall pts.if pts acuity is high some one covers the other pts.ie if a pt is 1:1 ,code trauma icu etc.if we have psych room which is 4 beds we may have upto 6 pts.combo of psych drug etoh detox etc.with a sitter of course.

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Specializes in ER, Cardiology, and GYN long ago.

Central Florida here:

We are 4:1 most of the time. Likewise, if the acuity is high, it might be lower.

Are you a graduate or new nurse getting an assignment like that ? Geez....

I wouldn't do it with almost 10 years ED experience.....

Good luck.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

LilPeanut, where in central Ohio are you?

Previous job SE Ohio(cardiac medsurg, not ED) 8:1 ratio covering an LPN with 7-8:1. Very high acuity pts, low staff morale, very dangerous situation. Have recently been told the ratio has jumped to 12:1 for RNs:angryfire No longer employed there, they laid a bunch of us off

New position southern Ohio, ED, as far as I can tell its 4-5:1. I say as far as I can tell because I work nites, and we don't really have "assigned" blocks, we just cover the pts as needed. Depends on pt acuity, current staffing, and overall pt load. We just rotate who gets the new arrivals

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

I'm in Columbus, I worked as a UC at Children's, and then had clinicals at OSU-E. I'm a NICU girl at heart though ;) The ER is a fabulous place too, and if I wasn't so NICU, I'd totally be ER

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Yeppers, it sure is true!!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.
I'm in Columbus, I worked as a UC at Children's, and then had clinicals at OSU-E. I'm a NICU girl at heart though ;) The ER is a fabulous place too, and if I wasn't so NICU, I'd totally be ER

Almost went to Columbus after my layoff, but the drive was a little prohibitive. Its about 1 1/2 hr for me. Got a call from OSU-E and Lancaster, the day after I had accepted the other position.(45 min drivetime) I am loving the ER, just a big jump coming from cardiac medsurg. Still learning the ropes. Learn something new everyday, which is part of the reason I love it so much

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Yep ... 4:1. Although in the California ER I'm working for now ... the ratios are typically 3:1. Only one nurse gets 4:1 with the most stable patients.

:typing

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

GN I'm not sure I understand your question,...we don't have mandatory pt ratio's where I work,.but in the ED we are usually assigned 3 rms per nurse,.now that doesn't mean 3 pts! These rooms turn over quickly,.so I might admit 4 to CCU, 5 to NICU, 6 to the floor etc in one night,..we try to split the Trauma rooms so that one nurse never has more than on trauma at a time,.but might have several through out the night!

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