Patient to nurse ratio?

hellohobbit · Apr 23, 2019

Medical is 1:4/5, medicine is 1:4-6, psych is 1:5-9, emergency is 1:4-6. The last time I or 1:4 was a long time ago ?

soljhs, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2019

1 hour ago, hellohobbit said:
Medical is 1:4/5, medicine is 1:4-6, psych is 1:5-9, emergency is 1:4-6. The last time I or 1:4 was a long time ago ?

Ok thanks!

dayandnight · Apr 26, 2019

On 4/23/2019 at 6:04 PM, soljhs said:
Ok thanks!

To make a better comparison, in Canada they hire way less care aids (in the states they are called nursing assistants, CNAs) in hospitals than the USA; Bedside nurses tend to do more hands on personal care, ADL's, etc. My friend works in Ontario at a Medical Unit. She has 7 patients on nights with no care aids on the floor.

Jose9, BSN · Apr 27, 2019

IN BC, usually surgical/ortho is 1:4-5. Medical is 1:5-6. Cardiac 1:4, ER 1:5-6

hellohobbit · Apr 27, 2019

Just wondering how about Alberta? Anyone knows?

Jose9, BSN · May 25, 2019

Yeah I'm planning on moving to Calgary and also wondering what is the nurse to patient ratio. From what I read and hear its 6 patients to 1 nurse. Can anyone from Alberta let us know what unit they work on and their ratio?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 31, 2019

It all depends on where you work. Some units have the so-called CoACT model of care where the RN is in charge of 21 beds and has a 5-patient assignment as well, the LPNs have the remainder of the patients and the aides are divvied up between the RN and LPNs. However, a friend who works on one of the CoACT units has said that the aide vacancies aren't being filled, so I'm not sure who is expected to take on that work...

Rural hospitals don't have an average patient:nurse ratio because their census is never predictable.

Fiona59 · Jun 1, 2019

15 hours ago, NotReady4PrimeTime said:
It all depends on where you work. Some units have the so-called CoACT model of care where the RN is in charge of 21 beds and has a 5-patient assignment as well, the LPNs have the remainder of the patients and the aides are divvied up between the RN and LPNs. However, a friend who works on one of the CoACT units has said that the aide vacancies aren't being filled, so I'm not sure who is expected to take on that work...
Rural hospitals don't have an average patient:nurse ratio because their census is never predictable.

Your friends numbers are off. Most units have between 27 to 29 beds. There are three teams. RN, LPN, NA on each team. So the team would have usually eight patients between them. Each nurse processes their own orders. The care is supposed to be fluid and evolving over the shift (like that really happens).

Not good times on a few units. If anything CoAct eliminated nursing staff and replaced a regulated nurse with an aide. The idea was for the NA to do the basic duties leaving the two nurses with assessments, meds, wound care, etc. No aide increased workload. Assignments don’t really change over the shift.

The LPNs are burning out from doing their work, the NAs job and assisting the RN. Factor in the LPN rotations can do seven day stretches and the RNs do six stretches, you’ve got to wonder if this type of slavery is legal. How many other workers are expected to work these schedules?

The Charge Nurse has been eliminated with CoAct. No Charge at the desk that knows the entire unit is doing. It’s this eras buzz word for lousy staffing and working conditions

Jose9, BSN · Jun 5, 2019

Oh RNs do 6 shifts in a row, I'm assuming its 8 hour shifts. Are most hospital/units 8 hour shifts? In BC, majority are 12 hour with the rotation being 2 days, 2 nights and then 4-5 days off.

Also 8 patients total for 1 team (RN,LPN, NA) doesn't sound too bad. 4 pts each for the nurses with an assistant. On my unit in BC, we have same concept but no nurse assistance.

amandab13 · Jun 6, 2019

Depends where you work. When I worked Northern Alberta, rural, my patient assignment varied from 4-9 patients. RNs, on day shifts, didn't have assignments and unfortunately lots of them were really good at "making sure the desk didn't move".

Another more urban medicine floor we did coAct, one RN, one LPN, on HCA for 8 patients. depending on the acuity, I would have 4-5 patients. Currently in ER, I usually have 4-6 patients.

amandab13 · Jun 6, 2019

5 hours ago, Jose9 said:
Oh RNs do 6 shifts in a row, I'm assuming its 8 hour shifts. Are most hospital/units 8 hour shifts? In BC, majority are 12 hour with the rotation being 2 days, 2 nights and then 4-5 days off.
Also 8 patients total for 1 team (RN,LPN, NA) doesn't sound too bad. 4 pts each for the nurses with an assistant. On my unit in BC, we have same concept but no nurse assistance.

Most places are 8 hours (that I have noticed). I read an article a few years ago that said that Alberta has the most Part-time RNs and LPNs and the most that do 8hour shifts out of all the other provinces.