What is your usual nurse-patient ratio in your unit?

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Dear fellow nurses!

If it is ok with you, please specify the hospital and its location and the usual nurse-patient ratio in your unit where you are presently working. This may serve as an information for every nurses for whatever purpose this may help everyone.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Work in a Med-surg floor for a local mid size town. Total 60 beds betwen two units. Average is 6-7 patients. With a unit clerk on days and seconds (sometimes) and a desk nurse only on days ( sometimes) . on days with 7 pt.'s it is great to have good NA's. otherwise you sink! I was working days until this week now I am 7p-7a and like it better.... So far :rolleyes:

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Specializes in MICU for 4 years, now PICU for 3 years!.

I work in a large hospital in Cleveland, in the Transfer Unit. A usual day is to have 12 beds full with 4 nurses taking the beds (each with 3 patients) and a free charge nurse. On nights, the charge nurse usually takes an assignment, so they all end up with 3 pts a piece. On a really crazy day when we are short staffed, or if we happen to have numerouls ICU pt's, someone could end up with 4 pts.

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

I work in a large teaching institution in MI. I work Cardiac ICU- 2 patients daily- max is 3. When I work the Cardiac Care Unit unfortunately not staffed as well, I get 5-6.

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Most of you who have posted to this thread are having a good nurse-patient ratio. Though I know that there a lot of nurses, especially, in Texas and Florida are complaining of high nurse-patient ratio.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

Neuro ICU in the SW. Ratio is 2:1 unless you are working with a barbs patient then it is 1:1. We have 32 beds, if all are full we have 16 nurses, 2 unit coordinators, 2 aides and 2 clinical leads (who dont take pts). At times we may have a manager on the floor but not too often bc I work nights.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

I work in Chicago; teaching Hospital; level 1 trauma center;

I work a med/surg/hem/onc unit; I work 8 hr shifts, nights.

Our ratio's days 4 or 5:1; PM's the same and nite 5-6:1.

On nights we generally have a CNA--occasionally two; on days they generally have 2 CNA's.

Mary Ann

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You lucky people. At the hospital where I do clinicals (outside of Knoxville, Tenn.), the ratio is 10:1 on all med-surg floors, with 1 LPN passing meds and maybe a CNA, but often not at nights. I'd like to work at this facility but in psych (lower ratio, great reputation), ER or in a unit for sure -- NOT working a floor.

Happy New Year! :balloons:

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

try 6-9:1!! total care patients on a busy med/surg floor. you have 3 needs prepped for colonoscopies ( bed-ridden), 2 or more who have dementia ( won't stay in the bed, alarms ringing all the time) a drama queen , who whines about everything, another going into dt's and a couple that are about to expire, a typical night for me.

these patients only have 1 nurse to take care of them. so i spend my time with those that need me the most and kinda just listen out for those that are almost normal!!

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

When I work NICU, I get anywhere from 1-3 pts depending on their acuity. When I work PICU, it's usually 1:1, rarely 2:1, sometimes 1:2!!!

This is in NW SC.

Stevern21

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I work in a Level I Trauma hospital- med/surg (Vascular Surgical Unit) I work a day/night rotation 40 hrs a week. On days its up to 4 without an aide...5-6 with an aide. On nights you can get up to 5-6- sometimes 7 rarely 8. It's not too bad but these patients are really sick and very medically involved.

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can anyone tell me staff patient ratio for er. thanks

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
try 6-9:1!! total care patients on a busy med/surg floor. you have 3 needs prepped for colonoscopies ( bed-ridden), 2 or more who have dementia ( won't stay in the bed, alarms ringing all the time) a drama queen , who whines about everything, another going into dt's and a couple that are about to expire, a typical night for me.

these patients only have 1 nurse to take care of them. so i spend my time with those that need me the most and kinda just listen out for those that are almost normal!!

i hear ya!!! i thought we worked in the same place until i saw you were from ga!

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