Open Forum

Good morning!

Does anyone have a guideline around the number of Medical Assistants to one Nurse Educator?  I am not finding anything in the literature.  In our health system, the general guideline for nurses in the hospital is one educator for every 100 nurses.  Looking to request additional Nurse Educator FTEs for ambulatory in the next budget.

Thank you!

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Karol Edwards MHA, RN, NE-BC
CNO, Ambulatory Services
MedStar Health
Columbia, MD
410-746-2430
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Our article in the Q3 issue of JACN might be helpful: https://library.aaacn.org/p/a/nursing-professional-development-in-ambulatory-care-settings-a-descriptive-study-14592  We found the national median was 1:133 staff members, with most departments having around 3 NPD practitioners (aka nurse educators) and serving about 400 people. Educator scope can vary quite a bit in ambulatory care, which can influence how many people are needed in the role. 

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Elizabeth Fritz PhD RN NPDA-BC EBP-C
Editor, AAACN ViewPoint

RN Program Manager, Clinical Education
SSM Health
Watertown WI
(608)260-6467
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