B.C. implements nurse-to-patient care staffing model

It's the first province to adopt minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in an effort to improve nurses’ working conditions and patient care. The model, based on nurse-to-patient ratios in Calif. and Australia, will allow nurses to spend more time with the people they care for to provide better, more person-focused services. Proposed nurse-to-patient ratios, which are subject to change, include 1 to 1 for patients in ventilated critical care; 1 to 2 in non-ventilated critical care, high-dependency mental health and high-acuity; 1 to 3 in special care; 1 to 4 in inpatient and palliative care; and 1 to 5 in rehabilitation. Ratios are still being developed for other units, including ORs and EDs. The BC Nurses’ Union calls the new model "transformative." More than 80% of members polled last year had said it was a top priority in improving working and practice conditions.