Abstract
Objective to evaluate the nursing work load in a Burns Intensive Care Unit according to the Nursing Activities Score. Method an exploratory, descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. The Nursing Activities Score was used for data collection between October 2011 and May 2012, totalling 1,221 measurements, obtained from 50 patients' hospital records. Data for qualitative variables was described in tables; for the quantitative variables, calculations using statistical measurements were used. Results the mean score for the Nursing Activities Score was 70.4% and the median was 70.3%, corresponding to the percentage of the time spent on direct care to the patient in 24 hours. Conclusion the Nursing Activities Score provided information which involves the process of caring for patients hospitalized in a Burns Intensive Care Unit, and indicated that there is a high work load for the nursing team of the sector studied.
Highlights
In order to care for and treat people who have suffered burns from a wide variety of causes, with lesions differing in location, extent and depth, one needs a multiprofessional team and an appropriate place, such as a Center for Burns Treatment, which includes the Burns Intensive Care Unit (ICU)(1).The Burns ICU is considered a complex unit which brings together human resources and expensive specialized technological apparatus
There was a predominance of male patients (74%); age varied between 18 and 76 years old
The activities evaluated by the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) instrument in this study showed a high mean work load in the Burns ICU, which may suggest burden for this sector’s nursing team, that is, an insufficient number of professionals
Summary
In order to care for and treat people who have suffered burns from a wide variety of causes, with lesions differing in location, extent and depth, one needs a multiprofessional team and an appropriate place, such as a Center for Burns Treatment, which includes the Burns Intensive Care Unit (ICU)(1).The Burns ICU is considered a complex unit which brings together human resources and expensive specialized technological apparatus. It is necessary to have professionals available for this sector both qualitatively and quantitatively, due to the care required for the hospitalized patients. Because these are nursing professionals who care for the patients uninterruptedly over 24 hours, it is fundamental to assess their work load. This evaluation is a way of making available a fair and efficient dimensioning of the human resources, affording the institutions planning which aims for benefits for all those involved, in particular the patients(2).
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