Survey Results of the New Health Care Worker Study: Implications ...

365. Other Work Conditions5.1. Nurse/Patient RatiosThe majority of respondents (953 nurses or approximately 70%) stated that they work in asetting where nurse to patient ratios were part of their jobs. The ratios varied according to dayand night time and area in which the nurses worked. Nurses were asked to identify the ratio theyworked during the day and night and the ratio they thought was their ideal or preferred ratio forthat time. When comparing the ratio they worked with the ratio they preferred to work, wefound that 58% worked with a higher ratio their ideal or preferred ratio during the day and 61%worked with a higher ratio than preferred during the night [See Table 21a]. The respondentswere also asked how often they have a higher patient assignment than their ideal ratio.Approximately 42% of respondents said that they have a higher nurse/patient ratio than theirideal or preferred ratio most or all of the time. Only 18% of respondents said that this happenedeither none of the time or a little of the time and 40% said some of the time [See Table 21b].Table 21a: Preferred Ratios: Difference between Current and Preferred RatiosDays (N %)Nights (N%)Currently work lower ratio than preferred 11 (1.2%) 15 (2%)Currently work higher ratio than preferred 483 (57.8%) 461 (60.8%)Currently work the ratio preferred 343 (41%) 282 (37.2)Total 837 (100%) 758 (100%)