Several factors influence nurse-patient ratios, including:
Patient acuity levels: Higher acuity levels require more intensive care, necessitating lower nurse-patient ratios. Care setting: Different healthcare settings, such as ICU, med-surg, or long-term care, have varying ratio requirements. Staff availability: The number of available nurses and support staff can impact the ratios. Regulatory guidelines: State and federal regulations may mandate specific ratios for various care settings.
