Nurse Educator to Nurse Ratio

[malqudim]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member in this amazing forum. I'd like to know what is the required nurse educator (at hospital) to nurse ratio. I'd love to get an answer supported with evidence (research study or even lowest level of evidences like personal experience with promising result).

Looking forward to hear the answer.

Thanks!

[lepew]

Well here in Texas it's a Max of 1-10 at clinical. Classroom is as many as they can fit in!!

[llg, PhD, RN]

In Virginia, the law allows up to 10 students per instructor (It's in the Nurse Practice Act) ... but most reputable schools in my area prefer less than that (more like 8)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Unfortunately, there is no actual standard for numbers of educators per staff in hospitals or healthcare facilities. However, I would recommend that you contact ChrysMarie Suby. She is the president of the Labor Management Institute & has been collecting actual staffing data for a very long time. http://www.lminstitute.com/1864/10701.html In the last few years, she has also begun collecting information on the number of educators. All of her information is available by specialty area and type of facility so it is much easier to interpret. (Note: I have no financial or other interest in LMI - just a fan)

I think that those of us employed in the service side of nursing education would welcome any additional research in this area that would help to establish some standards. The ongoing problem has always been "education is necessary - educators are not" (actual quote from a CEO that I once worked with . . long ago & far away). But we all know that when managers are expected to function as educators, it is highly unlikely that they will be able to do either job very well. Another issue is lack of acceptance of the competencies that have been established by the ANPD (ANPD - Association for Nursing Professional Development) - and lack of incentives for educators to become certified in NPD.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm a little confused about what you are looking for ...

1. the number of staff development educators in relation to the number of staff nurses?

or

2. The number of nursing students a single faculty member can supervise on a clinical unit?

If you are looking for #1: I have never seen a standard on that, as HouTx explained above. But if you are talking about #2, then the accrediting agencies and State Boards have standards for that.