Nursing workload in specialized Semi-intensive Therapy unit: workforce size criteria

Carga de trabajo de enfermería en unidad de cuidados semi-intensivos especializada: criterios para dimensionamiento de personal

Abstract

OBJECTIVE  To assess the nursing workload (NW) in Semi-intensive Therapy Unit, specialized in the care of children with Craniofacial anomalies and associated syndromes; to compare the amount of workforce required according to the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) and the COFEN Resolution 293/04.

METHOD  Cross-sectional study, whose sample was composed of 72 patients. Nursing workload was assessed through retrospective application of the NAS.

RESULTS  the NAS mean was 49.5%. Nursing workload for the last day of hospitalization was lower in patients being discharged to home (p<0.001) and higher on the first compared to last day of hospitalization (p< 0.001). The number of professionals required according to NAS was superior to the COFEN Resolution 293/04, being 17 and 14, respectively.

CONCLUSION  the nursing workload corresponded to approximately 50% of the working time of nursing professional and was influenced by day and outcome of hospitalization. The amount of professionals was greater than that determined by the existing legislation.

Descriptors Workload; Nursing; Nursing Staff; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Intensive Care Units

Resumen

OBJETIVO  Evaluar la carga de trabajo de enfermería (CTE) en Unidad de Cuidados Semi-Intensivos, especializada en la atención a niños con anomalías craneofaciales y síndromes asociados; comparar el cuantitativo de personal requerido según el Nursing Activities Score (NAS) y la Resolución COFEN-293/04.

MÉTODO  Estudio transversal, cuya muestra fue de 72 pacientes. La carga de trabajo de enfermería fue evaluada por medio de la aplicación retrospectiva del NAS.

RESULTADOS  El promedio del NAS fue del 49,5%. La carga de trabajo de enfermería referente al último día de estancia hospitalaria fue menor en pacientes que recibieron alta para el domicilio (p<0,001) y mayor el primer día de la estancia en comparación con el último (p<0,001). El cuantitativo de profesionales requerido según el NAS fue superior al de la Resolución COFEN-293/04, siendo 17 y 14, respectivamente.

CONCLUSIÓN  La carga de trabajo de enfermería correspondió a un 50% del tiempo de trabajo del profesional de enfermería y fue influenciada por el día y resultado de la hospitalización. El cuantitativo de profesionales fue superior al determinado por la legislación existente.

Descriptores Carga de Trabajo; Enfermería; Personal de Enfermería; Labio Leporino; Fisura del Paladar; Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos

Resumo

OBJETIVO  Avaliar a carga de trabalho de enfermagem (CTE) em Unidade de Terapia Semi-intensiva, especializada no atendimento de crianças com anomalias craniofaciais e síndromes associadas; comparar o quantitativo de pessoal requerido segundo o Nursing Activities Score (NAS) e a Resolução COFEN-293/04.

MÉTODO  Estudo transversal, cuja amostra foi de 72 pacientes. A carga de trabalho de enfermagem foi avaliada por meio da aplicação retrospectiva do NAS.

RESULTADOS  A média do NAS foi de 49,5%. A carga de trabalho de enfermagem referente ao último dia de internação foi menor em pacientes que receberam alta para o domicílio (p<0,001) e maior no primeiro dia de internação em comparação ao último (p<0,001). O quantitativo de profissionais requerido segundo o NAS foi superior ao da Resolução COFEN-293/04, sendo 17 e 14, respectivamente.

CONCLUSÃO  A carga de trabalho de enfermagem correspondeu a aproximadamente 50% do tempo de trabalho do profissional de enfermagem e foi influenciada pelo dia e desfecho da internação. O quantitativo de profissionais foi superior ao determinado pela legislação existente.

Descritores: Carga de Trabalho; Enfermagem; Recursos Humanos de Enfermagem; Fenda Labial; Fissura Palatina; Unidades de Terapia Intensiva

Introduction

Nursing workload (NW) is directly related to the adequacy of human resources, quality of care, including patient safety, and consequently, the cost reduction(¹). In addition, the negative influence on worker's health, particularly when the nursing staff is undersized, causing discontent, physical and mental overload, absenteeism and stress, including Burnout syndrome(²).

NW assessment became a healthcare instrument that is indispensable for the administration of hospitals, aimed not only to quantitative, but qualitative appropriateness of professionals. Various indexes or instruments have been developed in order to quantify accurately the NW, considering the complexity of care and the work process(³).

Among the instruments available to measure the NW, Nursing Activities Score (NAS) is named as one of the most comprehensive, for representing with greater emphasis the reality, according to the latest version of the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28). It allows one to measure direct and indirect nursing activities, besides being applicable in different contexts, which is why we chose for the present study(⁴-⁵), in addition to being translated and validated to the Brazilian reality (⁶).

Due to the lack of a theoretical framework to address the specific needs of different patients, including pediatric, the Brazilian Federal Council of Nursing (COFEN), through Resolution 293, published in 2004 (⁷), defines minimum parameters for the team of nursing professionals. Based on Patient classification system, it considers the amount of hours of assistance per bed in 24 hours. It also presents the division of nursing professionals by category, according to the profile of care. Semi-intensive care corresponds to 9.4 nursing hours, and the team should be made up of 42 to 46% of nurses, complemented by nursing technicians(⁷).

The semi-intensive care unit (SICU) is defined as the "healthcare structure that provides physical facilities, equipment and human adequate resources to provide specialized assistance in serious or potentially serious patients"(⁷). In this context, SICUs are present in hospital institutions, regardless of the profile of the customers, including hospitals designated to the care of patients with cleft lip and palate and related anomalies.

The cleft lip and palate malformations do not represent most common syndromic cleft lip and/or palate craniofacial involvement, involving aesthetic, functional and psychosocial problems(⁸). The functional problems are internalized when they are associated with genetic syndromes and/or clinics, including respiratory and food problems in most cases. Usually, surgeries are necessary which involve specific nursing care, in addition to the need for training of caregivers to maintain these care after discharge(⁹). These include, for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomies, dysphagia requiring gastric probes feed, etc. In this context, the nurse carries out essential function, acting primarily as an educator in promoting self-care(¹⁰).

Given the above, the following question arises:what is the NW on specialized pediatric care Semi-intensive therapy units for children with Craniofacial anomalies and associated syndromes ? and what is the relationship between the amount of workforce required according to NAS and the resolution of COFEN-293/04(⁷)? Thus, the objectives of this study are: to assess the NW in specialized pediatric care SICU in children with Craniofacial anomalies and associated syndromes and compare the amount of workforce required according to NAS and COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷).

We believe this study will contribute to the proper size of staff, influencing directly the quality of care in all its proportions, covering not only the patients, but the team as a whole.

Method

Descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative design, conducted in specialized pediatric care SICU for children with cleft lip and palate and Craniofacial anomalies of a referral Hospital.

The unit is composed of eight beds, intended for the care of children under two years of age, affected by craniofacial malformations, associated or not to cleft lip and palate, which usually evolve into respiratory changes and dysphagia. Besides that, this unit aims at promoting the training of caregivers (promoting self-care) for maintenance of the child care after discharge.

The population was composed of children who were admitted in the unit, in the period of data collection, during the period from May to July 2014. Since the first day of data collection, NAS was applied to all children, being allocated as they were admitted, corresponding entirely the period of hospitalization. The sample consisted of 72 patients, equivalent to all hospitalized children in the period of data collection.

The research began after approval of the Research Ethics Committee involving Humans, by the protocol 636,573. Due to the fact that the measurement of the NW is a routine procedure, we developed a term of commitment to ensure the observation of ethical precepts according to 466/12 Resolution of the Brazilian National Health Council.

In order to assess the NW we used NAS. This is a translated and validated instrument to the Brazilian reality, quantitative adequate, by means of percentage of actual time spent by a nursing professional in direct and indirect healthcare to the patient during 24 hours, which the maximum value is 176.8%. Thus, values above 100% indicate that a professional is necessary to meet the needs of a single patients in 24 hours(⁵-⁶).

The patients were followed-up during the entire length of hospitalization. The NW was assessed through retrospective application of NAS, being applied on a daily basis, in the morning period, exclusively by researchers. All researchers have been previously trained, and a tutorial was created regarding the application, in order to standardize data collection.

For the assessment of NW, as well as systematic observation, we listed information during shift change, in addition to the notes in the medical chart. A total of 586 assessments were generated regarding NAS application.

The NW was associated with age, medical diagnosis and outcome of hospitalization (Discharge, transfer to ICU, transfer to home city and transfer to the inpatient Unit). Subsequently, the amount of daily workforce according to the NAS was compared to the number of daily workforce according to COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷), about workforce size.

For the performance of sizing of the nursing staff according to the NAS, we used the mathematical equation below, consisting of the following variables: the NAS of each day (in hours), working hours and productivity of the professionals(¹¹).

Legend
• Q  daily quantity of nursing staff
• ∑ NASi  total NAS (in hours) sector i from collecting day
• t  working hours of nursing professionals (6 hours)
• p  productivity (0.80)

For the performance of the sizing of the nursing staff according to COFEN resolution 293/04, the mathematical equation below was used, it consists of the following variables: nursing hours, Marine constant and occupancy rate(⁷).

Legend
• HE  Nursing hours
• KM  Marine constant
• QP  Number of staff
• THE  Total hours of nursing
• TO  Occupancy rate

For the comparison of NW according to gender, we used the Mann-Whitney test. For their correlation with age, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used. To analyze the NW according to medical diagnosis and the outcome of the hospitalization, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used, and when there was significant difference, the Dunn method. The Wilcoxon test has made the comparison between the mean on the first day and the last day of hospitalization. For all tests we adopted a significance level of 5%.

Results

A total of 72 patients participated in this study. From which, 586 assessments were generated. The NAS mean (95% CI - Confidence Interval) corresponded to the hospitalization period 49.5% (48.4 -50.6). The mean hospitalization time was 8.1 days (6.9-9.3). The NAS mean on the first day of hospitalization was 69.4% (66.5-72.3), while the last day was 59.8% (57.7-61.9).

In relation to the characterization of the patients, the female gender was prevalent (62.5%, n=45), with mean age of 83.6 days (70.4-96.8). To analyze the hospitalization outcome, the most frequent was discharge to home (84%, n=60). Regarding medical diagnosis, the most frequent was the isolated Robin sequence (49%, n=35).

Considering the frequency of NAS therapeutic interventions, the most frequent items were: monitoring and controls (n=586, 100%), medication, except vasoactive drugs (n=586, 100%), hygiene procedure (n=586, 100%), mobilization and positioning (n=586, 100%), support and care to the families and patients (n=586, 100%), administrative and managerial tasks (n = 586, 100%), care with artificial airways (n=583, 99%) and enteral nutrition (n=586, 100%) (Table 1). It is worth mentioning that the unlisted items correspond to those with zero frequency.

Table 1
Frequency of therapeutic interventions of the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) according to items - Bauru, SP, Brazil, 2015.

Items	n	%
1. Control and monitoring	586	100%
2. Laboratory investigations	155	26%
3. Medication except vasoactive drugs	586	100%
4. Hygiene procedures	586	100%
6. Mobilization and Positioning	586	100%
7. Support and care to the families and patients	586	100%
8. Administrative and managerial tasks	586	100%
9. Respiratory support	107	18%
10. Care of artificial airway	583	99%
11. Treatment for improvement of pulmonary function	164	28%
21. Enteral nutrition	586	100%
23. Specific interventions outside the Intensive Care Unit, including diagnostic or surgical procedures	47	8%

To calculate the right workforce size according to COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷), we considered the occupancy rate of 80%, the amount of hours of nursing care for patients in semi-intensive care (9.4 hours of nursing), and Marine's constant (KM) corresponding to the working hours of 36 hours weekly (0.2236). The workforce size was approximately 14 professionals, consisting of six nurses (42%) and eight nursing technicians (58%), to be distributed in 24 hours shifts.

For the calculation of the workforce size according to the NAS, we used the NAS mean 49.5%. Whereas each NAS point corresponds to 14.4 minutes(⁶), it was required 11.88 nursing hours to attend patients in 24 hours. We considered an occupancy rate of 80% and the index of Technical Safety of 34% (corresponding to the daily working hours of 6 hours/1 weekly day off), and productivity of 80%(⁶). Workforce size, according to NAS, was approximately 17 professionals, seven nurses (42%) and 10 nursing technicians (58%), to be distributed in 24 hours shifts.

We observed that the amount of nursing professionals required through the application of NAS was higher (three professionals) compared to COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷).

When we made a correlation of NAS mean to age (p=0.848) and compared it according to medical diagnostics (p=0.269) and the length of hospitalization (p=0.426), no statistical significance was observed. To analyze NAS mean on the last day of hospitalization and outcome of hospitalization, we found significant difference (p<0.001), patients transferred to ICU presented higher mean when compared to those discharged to home (Table 2).

Table 2
Comparison of nursing workload for the last day of hospitalization according to outcomes - Bauru, SP, Brazil, 2015.

Hospitalization outcome	n	%	NAS Mean	95% CI	P
Discharge to home	60	83.3	57.9	56.3-59.5	<0.001*
Transfer to ICU	6	8.3	75.1	60.2-90.0
Transfer to home city	3	4.1	68.6	30.4-106.8
Transfer to IU	3	4.1	58.4	52.1-64.7

• ^{* Kruskal-Wallis}
  Significant difference (p≤0.05)
• ^NAS
  Nursing Activities Score

When comparing the NAS mean from the first (69.4%) and the last day (59.8%) of hospitalization, we found statistically significant difference (p<0.001) (Table 3).

Table 3
Comparison between the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) mean of the first day and the last day of hospitalization - Bauru, SP, Brazil, 2015.

Hospitalization day	NAS Mean	95% CI	P
NAS 1st day	69.4	66.5-72.3	<0.001*
NAS last day	59.8	57.7-61.9

• ^{* Wilcoxon test}
  Significant difference (p≤0.05)
• ^NAS
  Nursing Activities Score

Discussion

In this study, when analyzing the characteristics of patients in relation to the gender, it was observed prevalence of female, corroborating the literature that isolate cleft lip and palate are prevalent in the female gender(¹²). One should consider that the Pierre Robin sequence is the most incident pathology in this unit, being characterized by cleft lip and palate in 90% of cases(¹³).

Regarding age, we did not observe influence on nursing workload. The literature points out that the nursing workload is not associated directly with the age of the patients, but the cared patient profile (¹⁴).

In relation to medical diagnosis, Pierre Robin sequence remained isolated, being described as a triad of anomalies characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis with or without cleft lip and palate, events that leads to respiratory obstruction and dysphagia, justifying the hospitalization in SICUs(¹³). These patients need a variable range of specific nursing care, which necessarily involve the family⁽¹⁵⁾.

As for the hospitalization outcome, discharge was more frequent. The hospitalization is intended, among other dimensions, the caregiver/family training for continuity of care in homecare environment(⁹-¹⁰). A study conducted in adults SICU found that 29% of patients received hospital discharge, while 28% were transferred to other units of less complexity, representing the role of SICU in restoring the conditions of patients, preparing them for discharge(¹⁶).

NAS mean for the period of hospitalization was 49.5%. Although studies on nursing workload related to this profile of patients are not available, a similar result was observed in a study with adults in SICU (¹⁶).

A research that sought to identify the NW in different nurseries belonging to a neonatal Unit, listed according to the severity of patients at low risk, medium risk, high risk and isolation, showed that the NAS mean was proportional to the complexity of care(¹¹). Another study with the same objective in a Pediatric ICU, found NAS mean greater than 56%(¹⁷). Both allow inference that the greater the complexity, the greater the nursing workload. This correlation was evidenced in this study because patients whose outcome of hospitalization was discharge to their home showed lower NAS mean on the last day, when compared to those transferred to the ICU. The literature emphasizes this correlation(¹⁸).

On the other hand, studies on the NW in different units showed various NAS mean, demonstrating that the NW is related to the profile of the patients, including the extent of dependency, the complexity of diseases, work process, professional profile, availability of equipment and physical plant(¹⁹-²²).

When comparing the size of the nursing staff according to the NAS and the COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷), it was observed that the number required by the NAS was higher, corroborating the literature ^{(4, 11,.23-24)}.

On the other hand, another research pointed out that the NW measured through the application of the NAS was lower when compared to the COFEN resolution 293/04(⁷), associating this result to low complexity of patients due to the absence of semi-intensive care unit at the institution(²⁵). Other study pointed out, among others, the benefits of adequate staffing to quality of care, including smaller index of adverse events(²⁶).

Comparing the NAS mean on the first and last day of hospitalization showed significant regression of the NW. Similar results were observed in other investigations(¹⁸,²²). We associate this result to the fact that the patients on the first day of hospitalization, require greater care because they are in unfavorable clinical conditions. Additionally, the fact that the family find themselves emotionally fragile, besides being unprepared for self-care are some of the factors that contribute to the increase of the NW.

Regarding NAS assessments of the items, we observed prevalence of basic nursing activities, corroborating the literature(¹⁶). It is worth mentioning that the item support and care to the family members was also prevalent, emphasizing the wide scope of NAS in relation to other assessment instruments of the NW, which does not cover, among other aspects, assistance to the family(⁶).

Before the hospitalization, nurses exercise the advisory and educator function in the teaching-learning process, promoting, in addition to the technical care, the family insertion in the context of care, considering mainly the training of family members for maintenance of care after discharge(⁹-¹⁰).

Systems of education and health guidance are often classified as minimum nursing care, however, require highly skilled and available professionals(²⁷).

The literature points to the association between high nursing workload and the care and support to family members, including the family stay in the unit during hospitalization(²⁸-²⁹). As much as receive information about patients by the medical professionals, family members wish to be informed about the care provided by nurses, norms and routines of the unit, equipment, among others(³⁰).

Still, the items ventilatory support and tube feeding were frequent in this study. As emphasized earlier, we associate this result to the prevalence of the Pierre Robin sequence, in which the child usually evolves into respiratory changes and dysphagia(¹³,¹⁵). It is clear, therefore, the viability of the NAS application in different contexts and patient profiles, as advocated by its authors(⁵-⁶).

Given the above, it is believed that this study contributed to assess NW in a specialized SICU, while promoting a situational diagnosis linked to the profile of nursing care, contributing to the correct staff sizing. The scarcity of similar studies limits the discussion, but explains the relevance of the present study.

It is known that the appropriate sizing of staff is a major challenge(³), however, we strongly believe that it is only through the application of scientific methods that we will be able to minimize or solve this problem.

Currently, many evidence has been given to factors associated with patient safety and quality of care. The literature points out the benefits of quantitative and qualitative adequacy of nursing professionals, whose operating costs are lower when compared to those resulted from negative events and outcomes from the assistance provided(³¹-³²).

In this context, we encourage research on workforce size, demonstrating not only the amount of people, but their relationship with the available staff and influence on quality indicators. We reinforce the importance of studies that seek to assess the impact of the training of caregivers and assistance to family members about the NW.

Conclusion

NW corresponded to approximately 50% of the nursing professional working hours and it was influenced by the day and hospitalization outcome. The nursing staff size was greater than the existing number required by legislation.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Dec 2015

History

• Received
  03 Mar 2015
• Accepted
  06 Oct 2015