Inpatient psych nurse/pt ratio

[Turtle in scrubs]

I'm considering a switch to psych and just curious. What is your nurse/pt ratio? What setting do you work in (acute care hosp vs psych facility)?

thanks

[kiwipsychnurse]

Auckland New Zealand, Work in Forensic Mental health:

Ratio is 15 patients and 8 staff on the acute ward. Ratio's thoughout the service vary depending on acuity. IMO 15:8 is the best ratio I have ever come across.

[Turtle in scrubs]

Auckland New Zealand, Work in Forensic Mental health:

Ratio is 15 patients and 8 staff on the acute ward. Ratio's thoughout the service vary depending on acuity. IMO 15:8 is the best ratio I have ever come across.

Thanks for your reply. I was starting to think I didn't post this correctly.

15:8 sounds great. I'm guessing when you say staff only some of the 8 are nurses...?? How many are nurses and what are the rest of the 8 staff members?

[kiwipsychnurse]

I would say 5 of the 8 would be R.N's. The other 3 would be P.A's (psych assistants)

[Turtle in scrubs]

I would say 5 of the 8 would be R.N's. The other 3 would be P.A's (psych assistants)

Wow... that sounds like a great ratio, but I understand this probably has a lot to do with ratio. thanks :)

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

22 patients with 2 nurses and 3 techs....on a psych intensive care unit...

[Guest321574]

What do the ratios look like on night shift?

[kiwipsychnurse]

In our acute service at night the patients are locked in their rooms. The ratio drops down to 3 staff to 15 patients.

One is always an R.N

22 patients with 5 staff in an acute forensic unit would be interesting. I'm sure it could be done, but I wouldn't be on the pay role.

[EarthChild1130]

When I worked inpatient, I worked nights...our adult wing had 26 beds and was usually full b/c we were the only game in town, so to speak.

We'd have 2, sometimes 3 RNs...3 or 4 techs...and 26 patients.

On the geri-psych side, we had 15 beds but usually only 6-7 pts at a time. So we'd have 1, sometimes 2 RNs on that side, and 3 techs, depending again on # of pts on the unit.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Night shift: one nurse, one tech, for up to 22 patients (adult intensive care psych, not forensic)

[pandora44]

We have three inpatient units and they all have different staffing.

Acute - 14 beds 3 RNs, 2 techs

Stable - 16 beds 3 RNs, 1 techs

Geri - 6 beds 2 RNs, 2 techs - They tend to have significant health problems.

At night, all units drop to 1 RN and 1 tech.

[chazman1040]

Tonight I am working on a medium security forensic unit. We have 41 male adult patients. I am the only RN and am working with 3 CNA's.