Comparison of nursing workload between clinical and surgical intensive care patients

Abstract

Objective: to comparatively evaluate nursing workload between clinical and surgical patients in an intensive care unit. Method: prospective cohort conducted in an Intensive Care Unit of the capital city of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, with patients admitted from August 2018 to July 2019. Data were analyzed by Epi-Info 7.2 software. Results: clinical patients had longer hospital stay and higher mortality rate. The means, Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3, 24 hours and discharge and Charlson Comorbidity Index showed significant difference between the groups. The overall average workload according to the Nursing Activities Score was 53.31, and a significant difference was observed regarding workload only at unit discharge. Conclusion: the application of the indexes and the measurement of the workload among the different groups, as in this study, helps in the appropriate sizing, adds safety and quality of care.