Question

Mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios is one controversial method of addressing nurse staffing and quality of care.

In 300 words or fewer, describe the mandated ratios you investigated and the rationales given for the mandate, how the ratios are determined, and the impact the implemented ratios have had on the quality of care and nurse retention.

Answer 1

The mandatory nurse-patient ratio in all units would be 1:3, 1:1 for active labour patients, 1:6 for uncomplicated mothers or babies, 1:4 for medical or surgical patients and 1:5 for psychiatric patients. In the emergency room for stable patients the ratio is 1:2 and for critically ill patients the ratio is 1:1.
There will be a great impact on the healthcare management and also the patients. There will be a high amount of demand of nurses, the percentage of shortage of nurses will increase, the healthcare expenditures will increase. These are the negative impacts. The positive impacts are there will be reduction in the adverse events, nurse turnover and workforce injuries, which will decrease the healthcare costs. By following this mandatory ratio, there will be shorter hospital stays, fewer deaths of the patients, fewer bed sores and hospital acquired infections.