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Intensive Care Medicine

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01-09-2012 | Original

Measuring the nursing workload per shift in the ICU

Authors: Dieter P. Debergh, Dries Myny, Isabelle Van Herzeele, Georges Van Maele, Dinis Reis Miranda, Francis Colardyn

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 9/2012

Abstract

Purpose

In the intensive care unit (ICU) different strategies and workload measurement tools exist to indicate the number of nurses needed. The gathered information is always focused on manpower needed per 24 h. However, a day consists of several shifts, which may be unequal in nursing workload. The aim of this study was to evaluate if differences in nursing workload between consecutive shifts can be identified by a nursing workload measurement tool.

Methods

The nursing activities score (NAS) was registered per patient for every shift during a 4-week period in a prospective, observational research project in the surgical-pediatric ICU (SICU-PICU) and medical ICU (MICU) of an academic hospital.

Results

The NAS was influenced by the patient characteristics and the type of shift. Furthermore, the scores were lower during night shifts, in weekends and in MICU patients. Overall, the mean NAS per nurse per shift was 85.5 %, and the NAS per 24 h was 54.7 %.

Conclusion

This study has shown that the nursing workload can be measured per working shift. In the ICU, the NAS differentiates the nursing workload between shifts, patients and units.

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Title: Measuring the nursing workload per shift in the ICU
Authors: Dieter P. Debergh
Dries Myny
Isabelle Van Herzeele
Georges Van Maele
Dinis Reis Miranda
Francis Colardyn
Publication date: 01-09-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-012-2648-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Measuring the nursing workload per shift in the ICU

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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