Ratios in acute psych

Specialties Psychiatric

Updated:   Published

This is my first post so sorry if this is a dead horse topic. I'm a house supervisor in an acute psych facility. Our staffing ratios have recently been reduced, harshly imo. Staff injuries are up, but so is pt acuity. As there are no staff ratio laws where I live I am looking for some perspective. We generally run 1 run and 1mht at 15 pts. Anything over 15 we get a second Mht. A 3rd Mht is only allowed at 28 pts. I have had administrators begin to try to cut staff about 8 hours into my shifts recently - even if our census justifies the staff- and I'm very concerned about patient and staff safety. As a supervisori do my best to advocate for my team and feel I am fighting a loosing battle. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

At my facility (which is state run) the techs can only have at most six plus we have one rn and one or two Lpn ( depending more on availability then census) and some times we still feel understaffed. I can't imagine what your guys are going thru.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in adult psych, LTC/SNF, child psych.

I have been placed under the assumption that we have 3 nurses for 12-13 patients at my new job (starting on the 23rd), with at least 2 techs too. This is a teaching facility, so maybe that has something to do with it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

we tend to be 1 Rn for every 5 to 6 patients and 2 techs for every 10 patients. We are hospital based and can usually get someone for 1to1 help if needed. Being that we are within the Er we have help for tie downs etc as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have been placed under the assumption that we have 3 nurses for 12-13 patients at my new job (starting on the 23rd), with at least 2 techs too. This is a teaching facility, so maybe that has something to do with it?

Wow that would be really nice because at a teaching hospital you should also have a ton of providers lurking around at all hours. I hope thats how it is actually staffed. Please keep us posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Addictions, Adult Psych.

the hospital I work at is trying to cut staffing now for the noc shift in the locked/hospital unit... we can have a census of up to 18 but on average it's 13/14. I am the only RN in that building and always had 3 mental health techs (love my night team!) as of late they're "experimenting" on running with 2 techs and it is so chaotic now. I've spoken with my supervisors about it and they tell me that "most hospitals in the area have less staffing than that for overnights" so basically I should feel lucky for having 2 support staff. so frustrating. I hate leaving work in the morning feeling that it was only luck that got me through that shift without a catastrophe!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

CateBSN26: on nocs, we were 1 nurse to 16 in the acute unit. Plus 2 techs, I think.

I'm sorry that your nocs are busy. Mine were mostly quiet.

Most pts asleep most of the shift. It was busy when I first arrived and got busy before I got off, but except for the times we had admissions right before the shift, pretty routine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I work at a private non profit each unit has only 1 RN. We are almost always full.

which means:

Days and evenings 1:20 RN with 2 techs and a floater

Over night 1:20 RN with 1 tech and MAYBE a floater

It's really bad, we always feel understaffed. However, reading everyone else's ratios it feels even worse now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment