ICU Patient Ratios

[Misnim]

Hi all. I work in a 40 bed ICU (7 CV, 33 General ICU) we'll say staffing has been far from ideal for a long time, that's old news in my world, we're always told that's changing, but that's neither here nor there at this time.

My question/concern is, we recently got a new leader and are hearing from her that we are actually complaining without cause and that th er e are places that 7 mechanically ventilated patients to 1 RN is acceptable and even normal. I've never in my life heard this and am concerned that's going to be required of us soon. My gut says no way, not in an ICU setting, but I thought I'd put it out there as a question for more minds than I possess.

[imbatz, BSN, RN]

wow. that is an incredible ratio which would be an ideal, almost dreamlike ratio. We are thrilled when we don't get tripled.

[spacemonkey15]

When I look at you guys discussing staffing ratios I'm thankful we have set levels of care that dictate our staffing ratios with the critically ill here in the UK. 1:7 sounds so unsafe.