Comparison of the workload of nursing in adult intensive care units ; Comparison of the workload of nursing staff in adult intensive care unit

Objective: to compare the workload of nursing in two adult intensive care units (ICU), according to TISS-28. Method: it was a quantitative, prospective and longitudinal study. The sample was composed by all patients admitted from 3rd May to 31stJuly, 2010, totalizing 149 of them. Data collection was carried out by a form composed of identification data, TISS-28 interventions and destination of patients. Data collected were processed and used in simple frequencies and measures of central tendency. The research was authorized by the Committee of Ethics and Research of the institution, by protocol No 326022. Results: in the surgical ICU, 64% of patients were females, while in the medical ICU, 54% were males. Age varied from 16 to 90 years in the surgical ICU and from 16 to 93 years in the medical ICU. In the surgical ICU, 65% of patients stayed hospitalized from one to five days, while in the other ICU, most patients stayed hospitalized from 11 to 20 days. TISS-28 overall average score was 25.0 in both units. Conclusion: it was confirmed that both ICUs had the same nursing workload. It is considered that the systematic application of TISS-28 can help nursing managers with human resources management. Descriptors: nursing; index of severity of the disease; workload; intensive care units. RESUMO Objetivo: comparar a carga de trabalho de enfermagem de duas unidades de terapia intensiva adulto segundo o TISS-28. Método: estudo quantitativo, prospectivo e longitudinal. A amostra foi composta por todos os pacientes admitidos no período de 3 de maio a 31 de julho de 2010, totalizando 149 destes. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de formulário composto por dados de identificação, intervenções do TISS-28 e destino dos pacientes. Os dados coletados foram processados e utilizados em frequências simples e medidas de tendência central. A investigação foi autorizada pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa da instituição, sob o protocolo N° 326022. Resultados: na UTI cirúrgica, 64% dos pacientes internados eram do sexo ...