What is the nurse-patient ratio where you work?

[kaliRN]

So I recently learned on allnurses that California is the only state that has mandated nurse-patient ratios. I was honestly shocked and found it educational how hard fought a battle that was and how many other states are trying to pass similar laws. But it sparked my curiosity as to the average nurse-patient ratios in other states? What are the ranges of patients an RN sees on the unit/floor?

In California the ratios are as follows:

ICU, CCU, NICU/PICU, PACU, L&D, and ER patients requiring "intensive care:" 2:1

Step-down units: 3:1

Telemetry, Pediatrics, ER, Antepartum/Postpartum: 4:1

Med-Surg: 5:1

Psych: 6:1

*The only exception is a local or state declared emergency.

I became an RN after this law was in place for some time, so I really would be interested in the experience of others.

[NightNurseRN13]

I probably don't fall into this category as I do home health, but if I were in the hospital on a post-surg floor it typically would be 4:1.

My mother has been an LPN for 35 years and before the did away with LPNs in the hospital she at times had a 20:1 patient load. So very glad they changed things!

edit: I live in NC

[j0yegan]

Im very interested in learning more about ratios across the county. If any nurses would be willing to fill out a quick poll about ratios I would appreciate it! THANKS https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XXT87DH

No need. I've already started a thread a while ago with a poll. :)

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/poll-nurse-patient-897822.html

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

No need. I've already started a thread a while ago with a poll. :)

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/poll-nurse-patient-897822.html

This is for her masters please take the survey

[Murse1919]

I work in a PCU floor in Pittsburgh

Day Shift: 4:1 can be 5:1

Night Shift: 5:1 have been up to 7:1

[GenericUnicorn]

I work at a hospital in North Carolina. For my unit, dayshift the max is 5:1, but usually 4:1...either way they get two aides for the floor. On nights typically we get 6:1 with only one aide for the whole floor that night. 5:1 is awesome, 4:1 is heaven on nightshift but that hardly ever happens.

[gigi_rn]

IMU/PCU - ratio is 4:1, CNA 10:1, Charge Nurse doesn't take pts, so she is able to help.

[Catch22Personified]

Tele 6:1 but can go up to 8:1 on a rare occasion if the hospital has disaster protocols going around with poor staffing.

ICU: 3:1 but certain patients like balloon pump and some certain type of dialysis get 1:1.

ER: Section dependent

Med Surg:8:1

Sub Acute:15:1

Long Term:35:1

[ceccia]

Sub-acute rehab 16:1 (8 rooms per nurse, 2 pts per room) and we have an RN whose only job is to pass meds - i think that makes all the difference. There are also single rooms around the nurse station where they put pts who need more monitoring/higher level of care and/or isolation pts. if you have those rooms, you only have 6 pts. i've worked the 6-room assignment and the regular 16:1 and it works out to be pretty much the same in terms of workload/time demands, so it's fair.

Where I worked before? SAR 30:1 (ONE nurse and ONE cna per hallway, ridiculous! and no help with med pass.)

[Mn nurse 22]

LTC night shift. 83 beds, 4 CNAs and 2 RNs, though I am steaming about my experience this weekend. One NOC nurse started to vomit and had to leave at 0600. Called management to come in and they said it would be OK till 0700 so it was 1:77 (a few empty beds right now).

I was so frustrated. Lots to do at the end of the shift, and I just didnt feel safe being the only nurse in the building.

[CrazyGoonRN]

Med surg floor at my hospital in Nashville area: 1:5-6 night shift

Med surg floor at other hospitals in Nashville area: 1:7-8 night shift

I also know of one hospital med surg floor in Nashville area that has a 1:8 ratio on day shift

I also work LTC in Nashville. At my facility its 1:24 on day shift and 1:32-48 on nights

[CrazyGoonRN]

Seems it's been referred to committee...

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1907

Google Congressional Bill H.R. 1907.IH

Soon it will be against the law to be out of compliance with the minimum nurse staffing requirement.

An excerpt:

"(A) One patient in trauma emergency units.

(B) One patient in operating room units, provided that a minimum of 1 additional person provided that a minimum of 1 additional person serves as a scrub assistant in such unit.

C) Two patients in critical care units, including neonatal intensive care units, emergency critical care and intensive care units, labor and delivery units, coronary care units, acute respiratory care units, post anesthesia units, and burn units

(D) Three patients in emergency room units, pediatrics units, stepdown units, telemetry units, antepartum units, and combined labor, deliver, and postpartum units.

(E) Four patients in medical-surgical units, intermediate care nursery units, acute care psychiatric units, and other specialty care units.

(F) Five patients in rehabilitation units and skilled nursing units.

G) Six patients in postpartum (3 couplets) units and well-baby nursery units..."

Write your congress representation to support the bill ASAP. Thank and join the ANA (American Nurses Association) for working on this issue and getting nurses this far!!

:yes:Yea, Baby Nurse

[NOADLS]

I do 2x 3-11 and 3x 11-7 in LTC.

On the 3-11 we have either 34 or 36 patients to 1 nurse and 4 CNA's.

On the 11-7 we have 70 patients to 1 nurse and 3 CNA's. Note that 1 CNA on the prior shift remains in the building until midnight and we have one CNA from the next shift start at 6.