Nursing/Patient ratios

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Specializes in ICU, Tele. M/S.

I have been an ICU RN for 3 years and a discussion came up at work last night about patient ratios for ICU nurses. I was under the impression that there were standards for the number of patients an ICU nurse can have. I am aware that Tele/Med Surg nurses are often advocating for less patient to staff ratios but I am curious as to if there is a "law" or "mandate" in the state of Arizona? Another employee states that individual hospitals come up with this number.

Thanks,

Debbie:nurse:

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Excellent question (that I don't know the answer to)...this might be slightly off-topic, but it brings up another issue entirely (in my mind): should a nationwide staffing ratio mandate be included in any sort of health care reform bill? Just a thought. :typing

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Specializes in nephrology.

This is an important issue and one i'm glad somebody has brought up. Now I can't answer the question about the law and ICU....because I don't know the answer (mainly because I nurse in the UK)....but I get continuously angered at the management of my hospital with the "dangerous" levels of staffing to patient ratios.

I work on an acute 29 bedded medical ward with the highest turnover of the entire 750 bedded hospital....on a really busy day we can discharge 13 patients and with that get 13 new admissions. Our staffing levels run at 1 registered nurse to 10 patients (with 1 nursing assistant per ten pts) This level of work is very demanding and even when "properly" staffed to this level makes for an insane workload.

On days where a nurse rings in sick or a nurse gets moved this level changes and with two registered nurses on the ward makes for a 1/14 ratio.......this is rediculous and quite frankly extemely dangerous.

I totally agree that all gouvernments should legalise the official nurse to patient ratio and as a nurse think that it imperative for patient safety.....but would it be possible to enforce?????? If nurses do call in sick and the ward is full with 29 patients???? how would you ensure it is enforced when there just aren't the nurses about to cover the shift????

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

from the arizona administrative code (aac)

health care institutions: licensing

r9-10-220. intensive care services

b. 5. in addition to the requirements in r9-10-208©, an intensive care unit is staffed:

a. with a minimum of one registered nurse assigned for every two patients; and

b. according to an acuity plan as required in r9-10-208;

http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/title_09/9-10.htm

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