Nurse and midwife patient ratios
Nurse and midwife patient ratios means there are mandated minimum staffing levels to care for patients in Canberra Health Services facilities.
Minimum staffing ratios:
- support safe nursing and midwifery care
- ensure resourcing for nursing and midwifery staff to provide safe care
- improve outcomes for patients
- improve working conditions for nurses and midwives.
These ratios are incorporated into the ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreements.
Phased approach
We implemented patient ratios in a phased approach. Phase one began on February 1, 2022 in line with the ACT Public Sector Nursing Midwifery Enterprise Agreement, and the ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Safe Care Staffing Framework.
The areas in phase one included the following inpatient units:
- general medical
- general surgical
- acute aged care
- adult mental health.
Ratios
A unit may use no more than 25% enrolled nurses when complying with a ratio. This will be reviewed before phase two starts.
General medical, general surgical and aged care units
The minimum ratio is:
- one nurse for every 4 patients during a morning or evening shift
- one nurse for every 6 patients during the night shift.
There is also a supernumerary nursing team leader on the morning and evening shift.
Adult mental health units
The minimum ratio is:
- one nurse for every 2 patients in a high-dependency unit or area during a morning, evening or night shift
- one nurse for every 4 patients in a lower-dependency unit or area during a morning or evening shift
- one nurse for every 6 patients in a lower-dependency unit or area during the night shift.
There is also a supernumerary nursing team leader on the morning and evening shift.
Reporting
The health services report on compliance monthly. This data is below.
North Canberra Hospital and The Canberra Hospital report at a point in time across the day. The agreement provides that a health service will comply with an applicable ratio throughout a shift. Reports are being developed to capture compliance across the entire shift.
More information
For more information, email nurseratioframeworkproject@act.gov.au.