A safe nurse to pt ratio?

Published

I'm currently working MedSurg and have interviewed for a psych RN position in Florida. I would like to ask what is a normal or safe nurse to patient ratio for psychiatric nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There's no single, arbitrary "safe" ratio. Like nearly every other kind of nursing, the "safety" of an assignment/ratio depends on many variables -- the acuity of the clients, the skill and expertise of the staff members, the physical environment, etc., etc., etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

okay, well then let's use the word "average"...if anyone reading this is a psych RN, how many patients do you have a day, on average?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

Our unit is a 4:1 ratio for days and Eve's 9:1 at night with a minimum of three staff on at all times. However the staff isnt all nurses. Like last night only RN FOR 12. Days and Eve's get second Rn after 10

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

I work forensic psych in max security and at times I am the only nurse with 4-5 support staff and 20 or so patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Forensics, Addictions.
I work forensic psych in max security and at times I am the only nurse with 4-5 support staff and 20 or so patients.

I also work maximum security forensic psych. On my unit, we usually have 1-2 nurses with 4-5 techs for about 20 patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I also work maximum security forensic psych. On my unit, we usually have 1-2 nurses with 4-5 techs for about 20 patients.

What is forensic psych nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What is forensic psych nursing?

Let me google that for you

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Rude much?

(I didn't think so -- you could have gotten a lot worse responses. Was something keeping you from looking it up yourself?)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Forensics, Addictions.
What is forensic psych nursing?

It is a type of psych in a maximum security setting where patients have committed criminal offenses (i.e. murder, sex offenses), and the patients have mental illnesses. Many are found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

I work in the same type of setting although I work in admissions and I tend to work with competency and assessment patients. Most of our patients come in to either be assessed to be sure they are competent to stand trial or if not they are sent back to us to be treated to competency.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion