Well...first of all, I need to tell that I am doing the research about the Registered Nurse to Patient Ratio for each department in the hospitals in the US. And it's necessary to refer to the hospitals in the US since I think the hospital system there is standardized and can be used as a good source of reference.
I tried searching before but found many about the theory, the abstract, the blah blah blah but no exact number of the required ratio I'm looking for.
That's why I need to ask you guys a favor on this. Please share the Registered Nurse to Patient Ratio. You may tell your department and the ratio. Telling your hospital name too would be excellent but I understand if some of you find it uncomfortable. You can even PM me or leave me a message to PM you for your privacy.
I can guarantee I won't take the information I get to do anything else but for my project only. I'm from a country in South East Asia and just need the reliable data.
ICU/CSU 2:1 or (mostly) 3:1. Lots of lip service for IABP patients to be 1:1 but it rarely happens. Post-open heart patients 1:1 but only because of the pull of our cardio-thoracic surgeons. Step down 5:1, Cardiac floors 6:1, and Medical floors 6:1 or 7:1 and these are the ratios on day shift. Never CNA's in ICU/CSU (a 24-bed unit). Floors shorted on CNAs because they are used as sitters for mentally ill patients, so floors with >30 patients get one, if any, on a regular basis. Again, this is day shift only and night shift has it worse.
Med surg in central Arwith progressive/step down patients mixed in. 4:1 ideally. Occasioanlly 5:1 and on the rare day we are fully staffed I've had 3:1 (just regular med/surg) The progressive are 3:1. Usually have 3-4 techs on the floor and one at the desk.
I work on an Orthopedic unit at a union hospital in MN. I work day/evenings and have no more than 4 patients at one time. I couldn't imagine having more than 5! 😱
We are 6:1, day and night, on my med/surg unit. We've been promised 5:1 as soon as we're fully staffed for RNs, but that's been since Feb/Mar, so I'm not holding my breath.
ER - Clay County FL - night shift 1:4 on paper, 1:5 not abnormal and the most I have had is 1:10 because we were holding admits.
We have one ER tech in the waiting room and it is mandatory they remain there and one tech in the regular ED - no other ancillary staff except 1 secretary.
Pt mix includes suicidal, homocidal, exacerbation of sx of chronic mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar d/o, & lots of psychosis r/t polysubstance abuse. Pts are often physically threatening/violent, verbally aggressive, & just plain attention-seeking or med-seeking. 1 LPN present to help with meds & one PCT to assist with ADLs, VS, etc...
i have worked as an RN for 16 years, before that I was a tech/PCA in a level three neonatal intensive care for 10 years. When I started my RN career I worked in Florida where my RN salary was 28 cents difference than my salary as a tech in NICU [in michigan]. I have worked primarily oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology oncology critical care, and BMT during my career, as well as NICU and postpartum mom baby. NICU ratios were 1-4 in a level four NICU in florida, PPMB was 1-8 couplets, [i worked nights].
When i went back to oncology as a travel nurse the ratios were 1-6/7 with or without tele.
Now where i work is a 22 bed unit in Texas where i am a night charge, and routinely take up to 7 patients with chemo and or blood product transfusions, plus charge. We are lucky if we staff with 4 nurses, even though are ratios are supposed to be 4-1. We usually have one tech, sometimes 2 and when we are short nurses, staffing will give us 3 techs. Day shift is staffed with 5-6 nurses and always three techs, giving them a ratio of 1-3/4.
What bothers me though is that the day nurses think that they are superior and have more difficult jobs because the patients aren't sleeping.
It doesn't matter if the patients are sleeping or not night shift does not have the availability of resources that the day shift has.
I love my job as an oncology nurse it is my passion and i love my patients but the ratios here have to be adjusted. Ohhh and we are considered one of the best hospitals in Texas, and have magnet status too
MelanieBly55
1 Post
ICU/CSU 2:1 or (mostly) 3:1. Lots of lip service for IABP patients to be 1:1 but it rarely happens. Post-open heart patients 1:1 but only because of the pull of our cardio-thoracic surgeons. Step down 5:1, Cardiac floors 6:1, and Medical floors 6:1 or 7:1 and these are the ratios on day shift. Never CNA's in ICU/CSU (a 24-bed unit). Floors shorted on CNAs because they are used as sitters for mentally ill patients, so floors with >30 patients get one, if any, on a regular basis. Again, this is day shift only and night shift has it worse.