Staffing Ratios: Each State
Posted by Heather on January 26th, 2008 / 
Print This Post
Each state is able to mandate it’s own CNA:Resident Ratio. Only 8 states have mandated actual numbers…the rest either have no numbers, or use some formula of hours of care to be given and most allow the care of nurses to be included.
Staffing ratios- CNA/Resident– per state:
AK NONE
AL NONE
AR DAYS: 1:6 EVENINGS: 1:9 NIGHTS: 1:14 (This can include nurses)
AZ NONE
CA NONE
CO NONE
CT NONE
DC DAYS: 1:6 EVENINGS: 1:10 NIGHTS: 1:15
DE DAYS: 1:7 EVENINGS: 1:10 NIGHTS: 1:15
FL NONE
GA NONE
HI NONE
IA NONE
ID NONE
IL NONE
IN NONE
KS NONE
KY NONE
LA NONE
MA NONE
MD NONE
ME DAYS: 1:5 EVENINGS: 1:10 NIGHTS: 1:15 (This can include nurses)
MI DAYS: 1:8 EVENINGS: 1:12 NIGHTS: 1:15
MN NONE
MO NONE
MS NONE
MT **Complicated formula used; 4 hours care for each resident; no actual mandated numbers of staff**
NC NONE
ND NONE
NE NONE
NH NONE
NJ NONE
NM NONE
NV NONE
NY NONE
OH 1:15
OK DAYS: 1:6 EVENINGS: 1:8 NIGHTS: 1:15
OR DAYS: 1:10 EVENINGS: 1:15 NIGHTS: 1:20
PA NONE
RI NONE
SC DAYS: 1:9 EVENINGS: 1:13 NIGHTS: 1:22
SD NONE
TN NONE
TX NONE
UT NONE
VA NONE
VT NONE
WA NONE
WI NONE
WV NONE
WY NONE
SOURCE (pdf)
What a shame.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Oklahoma has it right!
Dawn
January 27th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I’m really shocked as to how FEW states mandate ratios; I thought more did so…esp. CA…I see they are trying to pass legislation but so far have not been able to do so.
January 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I am shocked too. I thought a lot more states mandated. I read the paper and it’s strange how so many go by hours- and, it confuses me even more when I know that in some states the DON, ADON, charge nurses and other NURSES are counted in ratios when they don’t do hands on care. To me this is fraud. To say these nurses do personal care when they do not. I am not diminishing their role by any means, but they do not do aide work.
I did note several states don’t allow this practice. That’s a good thing.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
It makes my blood boil when I see those ratios. I’m in Texas and we have a 1:13 any given time of the day. I believe it’s irresponsible from management and neglect towards residents
January 28th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
In Maine they do count the nurses so the ratio looks good on paper but in reality it is no better than having no mandates. They include nurses who aren’t even on duty! Infection control nurse, who doesn’t work evenings or weekends. DON, ADON same thing. MDS nurse. It’s a scam. We’ve told the state surveyors this too and they allude to it, but because it’s allowed under law there is nothing to be done about it.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Andrea I believe it makes all of our blood boil. It’s a contentious issue, that’s for sure. We need better staffing- and somehow we need to figure out how to pay for it. I don’t see the two sides coming together on it- because in the end it does mean WE ALL pay…my answer isn’t popular- but it stands: Close out nursing homes.