Question>PH Nurse Ratios to Population

[Dawn Grakist]

This is from a nursing colleague in Ontario:

Hi Dawn,
I thought you might like to forward to the list.
The last official population:phn ratio was the 1988 one from the Ontario
Ministry of Health, Public Health Branch. It was a guideline of 3400:1 and
accompanied by the caution that the ratio would vary, for example, rural
areas would require lower ratios (fewer pop:nurse)and even then most health
units were well above it (but some below). I should note that although we
commonly refer to it as phn:population, it really referred to total public
health nursing staff including other RNs, RPN/LPNs, and managers.

Our 1999 survey asked Ontario health units to report both their 1998 and
1993 staffing and population. From those figures (response rate was 85%),
the ratio in 1993 was calculated as 3790:1 but in 1998 was up to 4917:1

Hopefully this study will be published later this year.

Adeline R. Falk Rafael, RN, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
University of Western Ontario
London, ON N6A 5C1
(519) 661-2111 x 86581 FAX (519) 661-3928
arfalkra at julian.uwo.ca


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> From: Laura Larsson <larsson at u.washington.edu>

> To: Public Health Nursing Discussion and Information 

<phnurses at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Question>PH Nurse Ratios to Population

> Date: Friday, May 12, 2000 6:19 PM

> 

> Friends:

> 

> I am posting a question from a non-subscriber for your help. Apologies

> for the delay but I have been out of town at a Conference.

> 

> Laura

> larsson at u.washington.edu

> 

> I have been asked to identify recent references to public health nurse

> (other staff as well) ratios to population. The latest reference that I

> can find is the nurse management publication of 1980.

> Is anyone aware of recent reports that link numbers of personnel to

> public health functions.

> Thanks for your help

> JoAnne Henry

> Director, Community Nursing Organization

> JHENRY at hsc.vcu.edu

> 

>