Nursing care time and quality indicators at a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the correlation between the mean time of nursing care and care quality indicators in Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (PNICU). Methods: Quantitative, documentary, correlational research with retrospective data collection, developed at the UTIPN of the University Hospital at the Universidade de São Paulo. The relation between the mean care time spent and the care indicators for the period from January 2008 till July 2013 was verified by means of Spearman's and Pearson's Correlation tests. Results: The mean time of nursing care spent on the patients corresponded to the recommendation by Cofen (17.9 hours), but with a lower percentage of nurses than indicated. The correlation between the time of nursing care and the indicator unplanned removal of oral/nasogastric/enteral tube indicates that the availability of time influences the reporting or underreporting of these events. Conclusion: The results evidenced no change in the quality indicators in function of the mean care time, but suggest possible relations with professional experience, nursing team training and educational actions for the ongoing improvement of care processes.