If the nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:5, how many nurses are needed for 15 patients?

• A. 1 nurse
• B. 2 nurses
• C. 3 nurses
• D. 4 nurses

Answer: (C)

With a 1:5 ratio, one nurse cares for five patients. To cover 15 patients while maintaining that ratio, you divide 15 by 5, which equals 3. So three nurses are needed. This keeps the same number of patients per nurse across the board. One nurse would only handle five patients, two nurses ten, and four nurses twenty—each off from the required 1:5 ratio.