B.C. first province to announce minimum nurse-to-patient ratios

B.C. established minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for different hospital settings and is investing $237 million to ensure they’re met. They include a minimum of one nurse for every four patients in adult medical and surgical units, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The province says the nursing ratios are a first for Canada and no other jurisdiction in the world has a minimum ratio that applies at all times. The funding will be used to recruit and retain nurses, as well as rehire those who left the sector. B.C. will also offer up to $30,000 in signing bonuses in certain remote and rural communities to fill high-need vacancies.