Small Hospital and Ratio Law

[jannrn]

How does a small hospital maintain it's ratio of 1:5 during breaks?

I am curious what other small hospitals do and looking for ideas that may be different from what we do.

I work night shift so if we have 6 (or more) patients, then there are 2 nurses, but another RN is required to come in (state law says no meal breaks before 2 am) at 2 am to cover 2 30 minute meal breaks. If there are 11 (or more) pt then there are 3 RN's and a 4th has to come in to maintain the ratio during breaks.

In a large hospital I understand that there is a charge nurse or a float nurse that covers breaks, we are not big enough for that. Any other methods to remain lawful?

[suzanne4, RN]

There is no state law that states no break before 2 am, that is something that your facility came up with.

The law is stated that the break must be completed before the 5th hour if working an eight hour shift.

We start at 0730, and many take their breaks in the morning, they do not wait until 1000 or later to start. That is actually late. It is the choice of the employee to use that as their lunch break or not to meet the state laws. Works well to use that one as the lunch break if the nurse usually likes to eat lunch late.