How do you calculate ratios ?

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I start to think that I may calculate nursing ratios completely the wrong way. I have 12 patients in charge when I work so I was thinking the ratio was 1:12.

But today someone told me that for those 12 patients there were 1 nurse in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, 1 at night + some on WE and when we are on holidays.... So this is 5 nurses for those 12 patients. The ratio would then be 1:2.4

The is the same difference when you calculate the ratio for the hospital. In my 800-bed hospital we are about 300 nurses. Is the ratio 3:8 ?

Thanks for your answers !

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Hey guys !

I think the answer is quite simple and pretty much binary ! Don't you have any answer so I know how to read job descriptions ?

Thanks a lot

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I'm a newbie RN but I don't think that calculation sounds right at all! If you are one nurse caring for 12 patients then the ratio is 12:1. Those other nurses aren't there when you are - you ALONE have the responsibility for those patients while you are on shift. Did the person who gave you the other ratio number perhaps work in management?

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Thanks Lydia. Yes the person who told me the other way works in HR.

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