A district hospital has 200 beds. In a given month, the average daily census is 150. What is the bed occupancy rate of this hospital in that month?

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 30July-2025

Explanation

The bed occupancy rate is a measure of hospital utilization, calculated as the ratio of occupied beds to available beds.
The formula is: (Average Daily Census / Total Number of Beds) × 100.
Substituting the given values: (150 / 200) × 100 = 0.75 × 100 = 75%.
This calculation shows that, on average, 75% of the hospital's beds were occupied during the given month.

Option B: A 100% occupancy rate would mean the average daily census was 200, which is not the case.
Option C: A 50% occupancy rate would imply an average daily census of 100 patients (100/200 = 0.50), not 150.
Option D: A 25% occupancy rate would imply an average daily census of 50 patients (50/200 = 0.25), not 150.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Calculation of Bed Occupancy Rate helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) is a critical Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for hospital administrators to assess efficiency, plan for resource allocation (staff, supplies), and make financial projections.
An ideal BOR (typically 80-85%) ensures the hospital is running efficiently without being dangerously overcrowded, maintaining a buffer for emergencies and new admissions.
Consistently low BOR may signal a need for marketing, service line changes, or downsizing, while consistently high BOR may indicate a need for expansion or improved patient flow processes (like discharge planning).

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully read the question to identify the given data points. Here, Total Beds = 200 and Average Daily Census = 150.
Identify what the question is asking for, which is the 'bed occupancy rate'.
Recall the standard formula for calculating the bed occupancy rate: (Average Daily Census / Total Number of Beds) × 100.
Substitute the given values into the formula: (150 / 200) × 100.
Perform the mathematical calculation: 0.75 × 100 = 75.
Match your calculated result (75%) with the provided options to select the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Calculation of Bed Occupancy Rate
Stem keywords: district hospital, beds, average daily census, bed occupancy rate
Lead-in keywords: What is

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