RESUMO
Purpose@#This study was performed to develop a valid and reliable Pediatric Patient Classification System (PPCS). @*Methods@#The study was conducted in a children’s hospital which included various ward settings.Content validity was analyzed by Delphi method and to verify intraclass correlation reliability, 7 nurse managers and 29 staff nurses classified 216 patients. To verify construct validity, the staff nurses classified 216 patients according to PPCS comparing differences by age, days of stay, type of stay and medical department. @*Results@#The developed PPCS has 12 categories, 55 nursing activities and 80 criterions. High agreement among nurses (r=.90) suggested substantial reliability. Construct validity was verified by comparing differences in age, days of stay, type of stay and medical department (p<.05). The entire patient group were classified to four groups using PPCS. @*Conclusion@#The findings suggest that PPCS would be a useful tool for estimating nursing demands related to medications and the complexity of pediatric patients.