Change in ICU ratios?

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do you know who changes the Hospital Standard for staffing, etc. For example for some reason I thought that for many years the ICU staffing was already 2:1 as have been an active member of AACN for more than 30 years and in almost all hospitals have worked in that has been the ratio. Now, I find out it has been 3:1 and some supervisors/managers like to go around telling their staff "well so and so hospital gets away with that ratio and THEY seem to be able to it so why can't we"

Was it always 3:1 or did someone change it say about 10 years ago and how do we get it back to 2:1?????

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

never realised nurse had to be part detective till allnurses:

njac title 8 hospital licensing standards chapter 43g

http://www.state.nj.us/health/rules/documents/njac43g_hoslicstd.pdf

n.j.a.c. 8:43g-7.5(b) states, "for patients who remain in the cardiovascular surgical intensive care service or recovery room beyond the initial period of stabilization, there shall be at least a ratio of two registered professional nurses to three such patients."

jersey shore university medical center $35,000 fine assessed due to staffing violation after review of staffing sheets

http://www.state.nj.us/health/hcsa/hospfines/jers060605_03.pdf

they paid the fine too!

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Specializes in ICU.

Here in Aus it is 1:1 but that does not neccessarily mean better. It does though underscore that not all things are equal. These so called 3:1 facilities (and I would ask the name of said places and actually ring them to find out if it is accurate)

Ask if these 3:1 facilities use supplimental staff - i.e. respiratory technicians etc - ask what the average length of stay in ICU is in these facilities because I can bet that they are using more sedation and that equals more complications.

Then ask why they are not using patient: nurse dependency systems like those in other countries. (always good to turn the tables:p)

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

I do know of some hospitals that end up going 3:1 just for the simple fact that there is not enough staff to cover. I would actually like to see how strict they get with the 2:1 ratios because of the new law all hospitals have to make there staffing ratios public info.

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I have always worked for over 35 years in hi acuity ICUs. I have also belonged to the AACN and had wonderfull HN/Directors who were advocates of critical care. In the many hospitals I have worked it has NEVER been 3:1 until recently and hospitals found nurses who were willing to put up with those ratios and not complain. AACN does not support the increased ratios especially in hi acuity ICUS.

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I do know of some hospitals that end up going 3:1 just for the simple fact that there is not enough staff to cover. I would actually like to see how strict they get with the 2:1 ratios because of the new law all hospitals have to make there staffing ratios public info.

and the circle goes round and round. Keep up those 3:1 ratios and see just how many nurses you cannot find. It is all about the working conditions !!!!

When nurse feel their licenses are threatened, no they will not work

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In my experience it comes down to staffing failure and saving money. While 2;1 is usually staffed, 3;1 is becoming expected for at least one rn per shift.This nurse will have 3 patients with slightly less acuity and will be helped by other nurses if needed. Lets hope this is never the common standard.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have had the unpleasant experience of 3:1 even 4:1, all from For Profit hospitals, usually the largest fish in the sea that buys up all the little community hospitals and ruins them. Fortunately for now I am out of that unsafe situation.

Funny how they can't keep nurses, even the new grads are too smart to stay.

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In my experience it comes down to staffing failure and saving money. While 2;1 is usually staffed, 3;1 is becoming expected for at least one rn per shift.This nurse will have 3 patients with slightly less acuity and will be helped by other nurses if needed. Lets hope this is never the common standard.

well that shows how stupid tptb really are. for the cost of the fine $35k, they could have hired a nurse part time +!

that's a nice chunck of money to apply to the icu's budget for staffing!

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