Ratio Definitions
Last updated on July 25, 2025Hospital-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, 228.3KB) | 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) |
|
| Postpartum |
1:3 (dyad) |
|
| Newborn Care Nursery | 1:3 | |
| Alternate Level of Care (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.