Student to Instructor ratio?

[mylittlerussian]

Simple question here, I hope.....

What is considered a "good" student-to-instructor ratio? One of the schools I am applying to has a clinical ratio of 1:8. From what I can find on the subject, that sounds pretty good. Comments?

Thanks!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Yep. That's good. In the state where I live, schools are allowed to put up to 10 students with a single instructor. The better schools try to keep it at 8.

[JBudd, MSN]

1:8 is tough on both sides, but it does seem to be a fairly common ratio. Where I have taught and am now doing field work as a grad student/instructor (community college), the ratio is 1:6, with talk of going to 1:8 just so more students can be admitted.

I find it tough enough to try to give enough attention to all 6 during the day, and grading the clinical paper work takes a minimum of an hour per student each week; more if there are the extra assignments such as a master care plan or the teaching projects. We have been fortunate that there are floor nurses who like to teach students, and they really give individual students some good experiences each day we are there.