Does the new nurse: patient ratio have any specific relevance to inpatient dialysis? Are there any standards of any kind, be it legal or "industry" standards for staffing of an acute dialysis unit? We currently have a 3 bed unit with plans to expand to 4 or 5 bed/chair spaces. Our current 3 bed space does not optimize our potential in terms of staffing ratios and it would be helpful to know what's "normal" or better yet, the legal, limits of our staffing.

I work in an acute setting which requires me to go to two different units. One being a 3 station unit with staffing being one RN and one PCT. The other unit is a 6 bed unit and typically is staffed with 3RNs and one PCT. Of course, acuity is assessed on a daily basis and staffing is adjusted accordingly. Often, at our 6 station unit we only run 4-5 pts at at time when only 2 RNs and 1PCT are available due to the 3rd RN performing a bedside tx. Just keep in mind, it's your license. Don't agree to staffing demands put onto you by your company unless you feel comfortable.

We are a hospital-owned program in New Orleans, LA & do around 350-400 Rxs/mo. Our ratios are 1:1 off the unit and with isolation pts, and 2:1 in the unit (9 stations.) We also have 2 dialysis techs daily who take 4 pts each and support the RN's efficiency in transport, set-ups, testing, errands, turnover, break relief, etc. We do not plan for high acuity pts in the dialysis unit but if status changes, the charge RN will back-up pt care.