What is the nurse-patient ratio for teaching hospitals?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The correct ratio for a teaching hospital's general ward is 1:3, as recommended by the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
Teaching hospitals require a higher nurse-to-patient ratio (more nurses) compared to non-teaching hospitals.
This is to ensure adequate supervision for nursing students during their clinical training while maintaining the quality and safety of patient care.
The presence of students and the complexity of cases often seen in teaching institutions necessitate more intensive nursing oversight.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: The ratio of 1:5 is incorrect for a teaching hospital.
Option B: The ratio of 2:3 is not a standard staffing norm recommended by the INC or other regulatory bodies for any hospital ward.
Option C: The ratio of 1:4 is not the standard for a general ward in a teaching hospital.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Nurse-patient staffing norms in different hospital settings to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Understanding and adhering to prescribed nurse-patient ratios is crucial for ensuring patient safety, reducing medical errors, and preventing nurse burnout.
Inadequate staffing is linked to higher rates of adverse patient events, while appropriate staffing improves patient outcomes and nurse job satisfaction.
What if? If this question asked for the ratio in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the correct answer would be 1:1, reflecting the need for continuous, one-on-one monitoring for critically ill patients.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'nurse-patient ratio' and 'teaching hospitals'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of staffing norms set by regulatory bodies like the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
Recall or look for the specific standard for the setting mentioned (teaching hospital).
Differentiate this from the norms for other settings, such as non-teaching hospitals, ICUs, or special wards, to confirm your answer and eliminate distractors.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nurse-patient staffing norms in different hospital settings.
Stem keywords: nurse-patient ratio, teaching hospitals
Lead-in keywords: What is

Question ID

QNpwC_Gy5b5pCkHiz74sFG

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 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) p. 103-105

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