Hospitals that routinely staff with 1:8 nurse-to-patient ratios experience five additional deaths per 1,000 patients than those staffing with 1:4 ratios (2002). If the local hospital has decided to follow the 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio, how many patients can they treat if they have 120 nurses?

Answer: 480 patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since, the local hospital has decided to follow the 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio, how many patients can they treat if they have 120 nurses.

Therefore, New ratio of the nurses and patients = 1 : 4

Let the number of nurses = x and number of patients = 4x

Where x is any number,

But, according to question number of nurses = 250

That is, x = 120

⇒ 4x = 4*120 = 480

Therefore, number of patients = 480