Ratio Definitions

Last updated on September 19, 2024

Hospital-Sector Phase 1 Ratios

SETTING RATIO
General Medical / Surgical Inpatient (PDF, 206.3KB) 1:4 24/7
Rehabilitation (PDF,179.8KB) 1:5 Day/Evening
1:7 Night
Palliative (PDF, 183.8KB) 1:3 24/7
Focused (Special) Care (PDF, 164.5KB) 1:3 24/7
High Acuity / Step Down (PDF, 186KB) 1:2 24/7
Intensive Care (PDF, 187.5KB) 1:1 24/7
Pediatric Medical / Surgical (PDF, 181.7KB) 1:4 24/7
Pediatric Focused (Special) (PDF, 162.8KB) 1:3 24/7
Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PDF, 164.7KB) 1:1 24/7
Pediatric High Acuity Units (PDF, 163KB) 1:2 24/7

Hospital-Sector Phase 2 Ratios

SETTING   RATIO
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (PDF, 199.3KB) Tier 3 1:3
  Tier 4 1:2
  Tier 5, 6 1:3 to 1:1*
Operating Room (PDF, 186KB)   2.5per surgical suite (min 2 nurses per procedure)​
Post Anesthetic Care Unit​ (PACU) (PDF, 186.7KB) Category 1 2:1
  Category 2 1:1
  Category 3 1:2
Maternity​ (PDF, 216.2KB) Antepartum: 1:3 1:3
  Labour and Delivery​

1:1 (active labour) ​
2:1 (birth)​

  Postpartum

1:3 (dyad) ​
1:4 (birth parent only)​

  Newborn Care Nursery​ 1:3
Alternate Level of C​are  (ALC) (PDF, 183.5KB)   1:7
Emergency Department​ (ED) (PDF, 275.3KB) General Emergency 1:3
  Short-stay Observation 1:4
  Medical/surgical short stay 1:4
  Trauma 1:1
  Critical Care 1:1
  Fast track 1:4
  Waiting Area/Triage Visits per year

*Historical patient levels of care will be used to determine baseline staffing for Tiers 5 and 6.

Hospital-Sector Phase 3 Ratios