Selected methods of measuring workload among intensive care nursing staff

Abstract

Intensive care units and well-qualified medical staff are indispensable for the proper functioning of every hospital faci- lity. Due to demographic changes and technological progress having extended the average life expectancy, the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care units increases every year [9,10]. Global shortages of nursing staff (including changes in their age structure) have triggered a debate on the working environment and workload the nursing staff are exposed to while performing their duties. This paper provides a critical review of selected methods for the measurement of the workload of intensive care nurses and points out their practical uses. The paper reviews Polish and foreign literature on workload and the measurement tools used to evaluate workload indicators. © Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.