Nurse/Patient ratio in the ED? - page 5

1. 
   #39 0

   Aug 29, '12 by Hagabel

   I am overseas and I normally have 4 pts in the main adult area. Resus is 1:1, consult(like fast track) is 6:1, kids ed 5:1, short stay (obs area) 5: 1 and up to 10:1 at night. (pts mainly sleeping being observed, ivf etc). We also have a waiting room nurse most of the 24 hrs who starts working up pts, they have the entire waiting room! Traige can have up to 6 pts being held in the ambulance area a /w beds, 1-3 triage nurses depending shift.
   
   We are the equivalent of a large busy level 1.
2. 
   #40 0

   Sep 2, '12 by Lammmster

   Work in ny and it is pretty similar
3. 
   #41 0

   Nov 20, '12 by DC Collins

   Three to one 'regular' pts is our norm. Quite often we have a fourth mental health pt that doesn't require much of us once initial eval is done. We often get a fourth if an ambulance comes in when we are full, but once of our main 3 rooms is open that ambulance pt usually goes into that room getting us back to three.
   
   DC :-)
4. 
   #42 0

   Nov 20, '12 by RNFiona

   Patients should be assigned based on acuity not volume...I do per diem in a place with a 1:4 ratio and getting slammed with 4 half-dead patients at once is way more difficult than taking care of 10 stable ones.
5. 
   #43 0

   Nov 20, '12 by DC Collins

   Agreed, though in our case, our 3:1 (sometimes 4:1) as I just described is baseline. Someplace to start. We get a STEMI or CVA or respiratory distress or something and others jump in to help until things are manageable and then its still 1:1 for as long as needed, with others covering my other pts and rooms not getting filled until I am available.
   
   DC :-)
6. 
   #44 0

   Nov 20, '12 by sissiesmama

   Quote from mzlizbit

   Level 2 Trauma ER in New York:
   Trauma: Max at 7:1
   Acute: Max at 9:1
   
   I've seen it go up to 11:1
   
   It's pretty sick and completely dangerous...

   That's absurd!! No way I would be there long!

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