scholarly journals Assessment of Nurses’ Workload in Intensive Care Unit by Use of Scoring Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-71
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Vuković

Aim. To assess the level of correlation between two scoring systems: patient categorization according to the Croatian Nursing Council consensus and Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score (NEMS) and their ability to determine if the number of nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) is optimal to provide adequate nursing care, and to assess the level of correlation between the severity of patients’ illness and the level of nurses’ satisfaction with provided care. Methods. Research was performed in surgical ICU of the Clinical Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Dubrava, in the period between January 8th and April 14th, 2014. 256 patients aged 18-92 years were included in the study. Patient categorization and NEMS were calculated each day during the first 7 days of the ICU stay. NEMS was calculated using a pre-made table of variables and categorization was calculated using an electronic form included in nursing electronic patient files. Satisfaction of provided care was expressed using the Likert scale (1-5). Results. Study results have shown a moderate but significant level of correlation between the categorization and NEMS scores. Mean NEMS score during the first 7 days in the ICU was 26.93 ± 4.64 and the highest measured values were at day 4 (30.34±8.1) after which they started decreasing. Mean cumulative NEMS throughout the whole ICU stay was 269.3. According to the fact that according to NEMS scoring system one nurse can provide maximum of 45 points for 24 hours, the results have shown that a 10 bed ICU needs at least 5.98 (6) nurses to provide adequate level of care. Average categorization score was 57.83±4.29 and the highest recorded score was at day 7 (59.7±4.44). According to the categorization scoring system time needed to provide care for one 4th category patient throughout 24 hours is 10 or more hours. Since the description of the 4th category doesn’t specify what is the upper limit of time needed to provide care for each patient, 14 hours was used to determine a minimum number of nurses, and according to the categorization score 5.83 (6) nurses are needed in the ICU. Nurses’ satisfaction with provided care has shown a significant negative correlation with NEMS score and categorization score. Conclusion. Both scoring systems can be used to assess nursing workload in a surgical ICU. However, NEMS is simpler and quicker to use, more applicable, useful and should be routinely used in place of categorization to assess nursing workload in surgical ICUs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3364-3366
Author(s):  
Aamir Furqan ◽  
Mehwish Naseer ◽  
Rafia Tabassum

Aim: To compare the APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA scoring systems as predictors of mortality in ICU patients in terms of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Methodology: A prospective observational study. Intensive care unit from May 13, 2018 to September 15, 2021. For 1368 patients included in study, results for APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA were calculated with the worst values recorded. At the end of ICU stay, patient outcome was labelled as survivors and non-survivors. The cut off value for APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA was taken as 50% of the highest possible score, with <50% expected to survive and with ≥50% expected to die during their ICU stay. Cross tables were made against real outcome of the patients, and sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA were calculated. Results: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 77.53%, 94.28% and 85.45% for APACHE II scoring system; 47.29%, 87.32%, and 66.23% for SAPS II scoring system; and 73.37%, 60.28%, and 67.18% for SOFA scoring system, respectively. Conclusion: Apache Ii scoring system has highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in mortality prediction in ICU patients as compared to SAPS II and SOFA scoring systems, with SAPS II being least sensitive and accurate. Keywords: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Intensive care units (ICU), Mortality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Fabiola Alves Gomes ◽  
Denise Von Dolinger de Brito Röder ◽  
Thúlio Marquez Cunha ◽  
Rosângela De Oliveira Felice ◽  
Guilherme Silva Mendonça ◽  
...  

Objective: Evaluate the relation of nursing workload, evaluated by the Nursing Activities Score (NAS), with the occurrence of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the impact of VAP on hospitalization costs.Methods: Retrospective cohort study in Adult ICU of a high complexity Brazilian university hospital. The profile, outcomes, costs, and daily NAS from patients were collected. We also proposed some workload indicators based on NAS daily evaluation.Results: The study included 195 patients, 27.17% diagnosed with VAP. VAP was more prevalent in patients diagnosed with trauma on admission. The total costs of care were higher for VAP patients. In all multivariate models tested were predictive for VAP: the patient's intubation that occurs in days prior of the ICU admission day (higher risk if occurs in days prior the ICU admission day) and ventilation time prior ICU (higher risk if higher time). We found others predictors, but these were dependent on the model tested. Additional risk predictors were tracheostomy, propofol use, neuromuscular blocker use and the higher NAS from admission. The protective factors found were the percentage of adequacy of the assignment based in NAS that measure if the workload measured by the NAS was offered and the increment in NAS during the ventilation time.Conclusions: The offering of an adequate nursing work scale (adequate number of professionals for the care), as a function of the nursing workload measured by the NAS, could be effective in the reduction of VAP, hospital stay time and hospital costs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 800-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marios Karvouniaris ◽  
Demosthenes Makris ◽  
Efstratios Manoulakas ◽  
Paris Zygoulis ◽  
Konstantinos Mantzarlis ◽  
...  

Objective.To investigate prospectively the clinical course and risk factors for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and the impact of VAT on intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity and mortality.Design.Prospective cohort study.Setting.University Hospital Larissa, Larissa, GreecePatients.Critical care patients who received mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were prospectively studied between 2009 and 2011.Methods.The modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein level were systematically assessed every 2 days for the first 2 weeks of ICU stay. Bronchial secretions were assessed daily. Quantitative cultures of endotracheal secretions were performed on the first ICU day for every patient and every 2 days thereafter for the first 2 weeks or more at the discretion of the attending physicians. Definition of VAT was based on previously published criteria.Results.A total of 236 patients were observed; 42 patients (18%) presented with VAT. Gram-negative pathogens, which were usually multidrug resistant, were responsible for 92.9% of cases. Patients with a neurosurgical admission presented with VAT significantly more often than did other ICU patients (28.5% vs 14.1%; P = .02). The occurrence of VAT was a significant risk factor for increased duration of ICU stay (OR [95% CI], 3.04 [1.35-6.85]; P = .01). Age (OR [95% CI], 1.04 [1.015-1.06]; P = .02), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (OR [95% CI], 1.08 [1.015-1.16]; P = .02), and C-reactive protein level at admission (OR [95% CI], 1.05 [1.011.1]; P = .02) were independent factors for ICU mortality.Conclusions.VAT is a nosocomial infection that might be associated with prolonged stay in the ICU, especially in neurocritical patients. VAT was not associated with increased mortality in our study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Salama ◽  
Amira Gad ◽  
Sarah El Tatawy

Abstract Background This study demonstrates the experience of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary referral center in Egypt in management of prematures with neonatal sepsis. This retrospective study included preterm neonates admitted to NICU with clinical and/or laboratory diagnosis of sepsis. Blood culture was done followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing for positive cases. Neonates with sepsis were classified into early onset sepsis (EOS) and late onset sepsis (LOS). Hematological scoring system (HSS) for detection of sepsis was calculated. Results The study included 153 cases of neonatal sepsis; 63 (41.2%) EOS and 90 (58.8%) LOS. The majority of the neonates had very low or moderately low birth weight (90.9%). All neonates received first-line antibiotics in the form of ampicillin-sulbactam, and gentamicin. Second-line antibiotics were administered to 133 neonates (86.9%) as vancomycin and imipenem-cilastatin. Mortalities were more common among EOS group (p < 0.017). Positive blood cultures were detected in 61 neonates (39.8%) with a total number of 66 cultures. The most commonly encountered organisms were Klebsiella MDR and CoNS (31.8% each). Klebsiella MDR was the most predominant organism in EOS (28.9%), while CoNS was the most predominant in LOS (39.2%) The detected organisms were divided into 3 families; Enterobacteriaceae, non-fermenters, and Gram-positive family. There 3 families were 100% resistant to ampicillin. The highest sensitivity in Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters was for colistin and polymyxin-B. An HSS of 3–8 had a sensitivity and specificity of 62.3% and 57.6%, respectively for diagnosis of culture-proven sepsis. Conclusion Neonatal sepsis was encountered in 21.5% of admitted preterm neonates; LOS was more common (58.8%). Mortality was 51.6%. Klebsiella MDR and CoNS were the most commonly encountered organisms in both EOS and LOS. The isolated families were 100% resistant to ampicillin. The hematological scoring system (HSS) showed limited sensitivity for detection of sepsis.


Author(s):  
Kelly Dayane Stochero Velozo ◽  
Caroline Abud Drumond Costa ◽  
Cristian Tedesco Tonial ◽  
Francielly Crestani ◽  
Gabriela Rupp Hanzen Andrades ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the nursing workload using the Nursing Activities Score (NAS), Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28) and Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score (NEMS) instruments in children admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a university hospital. Method: A prospective cohort study performed in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with a sample formed of all children hospitalized during the study period. Nursing workload was evaluated using the TISS-28, NEMS and NAS instruments, and further divided into two groups: Group 1 forming a category of basic activities items and Group 2 forming a category of other support and intervention activities. Results: The sample consisted of 490 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit admissions, totaling 4617 observations. NAS presented the best estimate of total working hours. TISS-28 and NEMS showed better agreement and the results showed strong correlations between NAS and TISS-28 and between NEMS and TISS-28. In Group 1 (basic activities), NAS(1) and TISS-28(1) showed moderate correlation, in Group 2 (specialized activities) the three instruments showed strong correlations. Conclusion: NAS stood out in the evaluation of nursing workload and showed good correlation and agreement with the TISS-28.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 522-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Kiekkas ◽  
George C. Sakellaropoulos ◽  
Hero Brokalaki ◽  
Evangelos Manolis ◽  
Adamantios Samios ◽  
...  

Background Fever in a patient in the intensive care unit necessitates several nursing tasks. Moreover, factors associated with increased patient care needs may be associated with fever. Objective To identify relationships between fever and characteristics of fever and nursing workload at the patient level. Methods A prospective study was conducted in a medical-surgical intensive care unit. The sample consisted of 361 patients consecutively admitted from October 2005 to August 2006. Each patient’s body temperature was measured by using a tympanic membrane or an axillary thermometer. The Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 was used to measure nursing workload. Results A total of 188 patients (52.1%) had fever. Mean daily scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System and on 5 of its 7 categories were significantly higher for febrile patients than for nonfebrile patients. Fever was an independent predictor of the mean daily scores for all patients (P &lt; .001). Peak body temperature but not duration of fever also was an independent predictor of mean daily scores for febrile patients (P &lt; .001). Conclusion In a general intensive care unit, fever in patients should be taken into consideration for the proper allocation of nursing personnel.


2015 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidsel Christy Lindgaard ◽  
Jonas Nielsen ◽  
Anders Lindmark ◽  
Henrik Sengeløv

Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a procedure with inherent complications and intensive care may be necessary. We evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of the HSCT recipients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: We retrospectively examined the outcome of 54 adult haematological HSCT recipients admitted to the ICU at the University Hospital Rigshospitalet between January 2007 and March 2012. Results: The overall in-ICU, in-hospital, 6-month and 1-year mortality rates were 46.3, 75.9, 79.6 and 86.5%, respectively. Mechanical ventilation had a statistically significant effect on in-ICU (p = 0.02), 6-month (p = 0.049) and 1-year (p = 0.014) mortality. Renal replacement therapy also had a statistically significant effect on in-hospital (p = 0.038) and 6-month (p = 0.026) mortality. Short ICU admissions, i.e. <10 days, had a statistically significant positive effect on in-hospital, 6-month and 1-year mortality (all p < 0.001). The SAPS II, APACHE II and SOFA scoring systems grossly underestimated the actual in-hospital mortality observed for these patients. Conclusion: The poor prognosis of critically ill HSCT recipients admitted to the ICU was confirmed in our study. Mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy and an ICU admission of ≥10 days were each risk factors for mortality in the first year after ICU admission.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. e131-e140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Seynaeve ◽  
Walter Verbrugghe ◽  
Brigitte Claes ◽  
Dirk Vandenplas ◽  
Dirk Reyntiens ◽  
...  

Background Adverse drug events are considered determinants of patient safety and quality of care. Objective To assess the characteristics of adverse drug events in patients admitted to an intensive care unit and determine the impact of severity of illness and nursing workload on the prevalence of the events. Methods A cross-sectional survey based on retrospective analysis of a high-quality patient data management system for a university-based intensive care unit was used. The prevalence of adverse drug events was measured by using a validated global trigger tool adapted for the critical care environment. Severity was determined by using a validated algorithm. Disease severity and nursing workload were assessed by using validated scoring systems. An investigator blinded to the study and a panel of experts assessed putative serious adverse drug events for each drug taken. Characteristics of patients with and without adverse drug events were compared by using univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Results During 175 of 1009 intensive care unit days screened, 230 adverse drug events occurred in 79 patients. The most common events were hypoglycemia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, and hypokalemia. Of the adverse events, 96% were classified as causing temporary harm and 4% as causing complications. Both mean severity of disease and nursing workload were significantly higher on days when 1 or more adverse drug events occurred. Conclusion Adverse drug events were common in intensive care unit patients and were associated with illness severity and nursing workload.


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