Nursing workload in neurological intensive care units: Cross-sectional study

Background: Nursing workload has been associated with quality of patient care. Thus, it is important to measure nursing workload in neurological intensive care units (neuro-ICUs). Objective: The aims of the study were to assess nursing workload in neuro-ICUs and identify independent factors associated with nursing workload. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in two neuro-ICUs with 11 beds each (for a total of 22 beds) of a private general hospital in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Data from the first 24 hours of admission to the neuro-ICUs from 100 consecutive patients were collected from the hospital database. The Nursing Activities Score (NAS) was used to assess nursing workload in the neuro-ICUs. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Results: Patients were mostly men (52.00%), had a mean age of 55.10 years, median length of ICU stay of 2 days, and survival rate of 94.00%. Fifty-nine percent of patients were transferred from the surgical ward. Mean NAS was 65.18% (standard deviation = 6.63%) and the risk of mortality according to the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and the Logistic Organ Dysfunction System (LODS) was 17.79% and 16.30%, respectively. Conclusion: The present results are important for the effective planning and use of nursing resources according to the care needs of patients in neuro-ICUs. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.