This should not reduce the basic staffing on another unit. At night, when the patients are asleep there should be one nurse to 50 patients per shift with an on-call nurse who can come on site. Ratios are dependent on such variables as the number of children in the living unit, the physical configuration of the facilities, the acuity including developmental levels, the frequency of turnover and length of stay, and the availability of off-unit activities, e.g., specialized recreational activities. Children and adolescents treated in acute psychiatric hospital programs require additional special staff. Due to the variability in program structure and patient characteristics, the number of staff is not specified.
Cognitive evaluation is particularly important.
In some programs, psychologists may be involved in treatment plan development, individual, group and family psychotherapy and other types of therapeutic intervention. Educators to assess academic achievement and needs, maintain educational progress and accomplish transfer into an appropriate post-hospital educational program. Patients need an educational program 5 days per week under the direction of a special educator. The Council of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry accepted these Guidelines for Minimum Staffing in 1990. The Academy has led in the development of policies, position statements and review standards.