Victorian Numbered Acts Victorian Numbered Acts(1) If the number of patients in a ward or the number of beds (as the case requires) is not divisible into a whole number when a ratio is applied, the number of nurses or midwives must be rounded in accordance with subsections (2), (3) and (4), as applicable.
(2) If the actual or expected number of patients in a ward or number of beds requires less than or equal to 50 per cent of one additional nurse or midwife to be rostered in applying a ratio, the operator of the hospital is not required to roster an additional nurse or midwife in order to comply with the ratio unless safe patient care may be compromised.
(3) In addition to any requirement under subsection (2), the operator of a hospital may assign a nurse or midwife to care for patients—
(a) across multiple wards at night; or
(b) in the case of a nurse, across multiple beds in aged high care residential wards on any shift.
(4) If the actual or expected number of patients in a ward or number of beds requires more than 50 per cent of one additional nurse or midwife to be rostered in applying a ratio, the operator of the hospital must roster an additional nurse or midwife to comply with the ratio.