Patient ratio/assignment, acuity and holdings

[anursedad]

Hello! I would like to ask, what is the usual/common and acceptable nurse-pt ratio in the ED you are working?

1:4 is what we have now. But if you get the trauma room, you will only 1 more monitor bed.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

1:4 is ideal but we often have 6:1. 3 rooms and 3 hall beds.

[anursedad]

1:4 is ideal but we often have 6:1. 3 rooms and 3 hall beds.

Ok. What state and area are you from?

[sleepingquietly]

Here in Cali, we have a set ratio of 1:4, no exceptions. Some EDs I have worked in will make an attempt to assign the nurses only 2 monitored beds, when that can be reasonably accommodated.

[sleepingquietly]

Clarification: Assigned 4 beds, but only 2 monitored when circumstances permit.

[anursedad]

Another issue I have is boarding/holding patients. How long does a patient once admitted to ICU level of care stay in your ED?

[MassED, BSN, RN]

sometimes intubated pt's are held/boarded - it depends on the bed situation in the hospital. There is no cut/dry who will stay or go upstairs. Floors seem to choose who they want from the ER. Often it's the easier/better pt's, leaving the horrible ones for us. It's unfair, it shouldn't be a choice - if any, we should be choosing who leave the ER and we choose who we keep to board. We are 4:1 ratio, some will take more, but it's unfair to the patient's, the doctors, and the nurses. Safety is paramount.