RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022
Nursing Management & leadership
Easy
According to Indian Nursing Council and ICU what is the nurse-patient ratio in general wards?
Appeared in: RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022
Explanation
- According to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) norms, which are endorsed by the Indian Nursing Council (INC), the recommended nurse-patient ratio for a general ward is 1:6.
- This means one nurse is responsible for the care of six patients. This ratio is considered safe and effective for patients with lower acuity who require routine care, medication administration, and monitoring.
- This standard helps ensure patient safety while managing nursing workload in non-critical care environments.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: A 1:2 ratio is incorrect for a general ward as it represents a much higher level of care.
- Option B: A 1:4 ratio provides a higher level of nursing care than is standard for a general ward.
- Option D: A 1:8 ratio is higher than the recommended standard for general wards in India and would be considered unsafe staffing.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Prioritize focused assessment, early escalation, and real-time monitoring when managing Nurse-patient ratio guidelines by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) in acute care settings.
- Maintaining appropriate nurse-patient ratios is a critical factor in patient safety, directly linked to lower rates of mortality, hospital-acquired infections, and medication errors.
- For a floor nurse, understanding these norms is essential for advocating for safe staffing levels and escalating concerns to the nursing supervisor when ratios are not met, thereby protecting both patients and their own nursing license.
- What if? If a hospital is a teaching institution affiliated with a nursing college, the INC norms suggest a denser ratio of 1:3 in general wards to account for student supervision and clinical training needs.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Indian Nursing Council (INC)', 'nurse-patient ratio', and 'general wards'.
- Recognize this as a factual recall question based on established nursing administration guidelines in India.
- Mentally separate the ratios for different acuity levels. Recall that ICUs have the lowest ratio (1:1), while general wards have a higher ratio, reflecting less critical patient needs.
- Compare the given options to the standard norms. The most widely accepted norm for general wards is 1:6.
- Eliminate other options by associating them with different units: 1:2 is for HDUs, and 1:4 is for specialty wards.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Nurse-patient ratio guidelines by the Indian Nursing Council (INC)
- Stem keywords: Indian Nursing Council, ICU, nurse-patient ratio, general wards
- Lead-in keywords: what is
- Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Qu7b1ggfuwO8luFLQW-ifz
Reference Book
E6 Principles and Practice of NURSING Management Leadership for BSc Nursing 3rd Edi Jogindra Vati — Subpart A (pp 26-339 of 1017) pp. 238-240, 239-241
E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) p. 5-7
Practise the full RIMS Nursing Officer - 2022
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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