Nursing activities scores (NAS): nurse workload in icu and associated factors

Abstract

Acknowledging Nursing workload in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and associated factors is essential to effectively manage a Nursing staff. The objective of this study was to identify the workload of the Nursing staff in an adult ICU (A-ICU) and determine which demographic and clinical variables influence this workload. It is a prospective investigation, carried out between November 2007 and May 2008, with 100 patients. Data were collected from observing the patients, their registers and from explanations by the staff. The Nursing workload was classified as either Low (107%) or High (>107%), according to the median of the Nursing Activities Score (NAS). In order to determine association with the variables, the chi-square test was applied. It was observed that the Nursing workload in the A-ICU was 104%, nearly a High Workload, and only surgical treatment directly influenced this variable. It is concluded that, for the service investigated, the dynamics of surgery patient admission must be rethought.