AB 394 RN/LVN/LPT Staff Ratios Matrix

 

ADULT

 

CRITICAL CARE UNIT

(ICU, CCU, Burn)

STEPDOWN

UNIT

MEDICAL - SURGICAL UNIT **

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ***

TRANSITIONAL

IN-PATIENT CARE

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT ****

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

 

1 : 2

 

1 : 6

 

1 : 10

 

1 : 6

 

1 : 12

 

1 : 12

MATERNAL/CHILD

NEW BORN

NURSERY

INTERMEDIATE CARE NURSERY

NEONATAL/PEDIATRIC

I C U

PEDIATRICS

LABOR &

DELIVERY

POST PARTUM UNIT

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse * : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

Nurse : Patients

MOTHER

COUPLET CARE

1 : 8

1 : 6

1 : 2

1 : 6

1 : 3

1 : 8

1 : 4

PERI-OPERATIVE

 

OPERATING ROOM

P A C U

Nurse * : Patient

Nurse : Patients

 

1 : 1

 

1 : 3

* RNs Only

* * May Include Telemetry and Oncology

* * * If a patient in the Emergency Department is admitted but remains in the ED, the nurse to patient ratio must be dependent on the nurse to patient ratio for the area to which the patient is admitted.

* * * * Assumes Registered Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse/Psychiatric Technicians

With the exception of the areas already defined in law as requiring a registered nurse, "nurse" means either a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse.

 

Governor Davis’ letter of October 10, 1999, directs DHS "to write the regulations so that the minimum required staffing does not exceed that necessary to comply with other existing standards and the levels necessary to provide quality care. In other words, the minimums should be just that, in order for hospitals to retain reasonable flexibility."