ICU Nurse Allocation in a Cardiothoracic ICU : How many Hands do we Need ?
South. Afr. j. crit. care (Online)
;
23(2): 66-69, 2007.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1272271
ABSTRACT
Aim. To determine the nurse/patient ratios required to render safe; competent ICU nursing. Method. A patient classification system (CritScore) was used to compile an objective 3-month patient profile. The number (of full-time and agency staff) and the professional profiles of nursing staff allocated to the unit during this period were documented. Results. The majority of the patients were class 3 patients. While there was concordance between the total number of nurses present in relation to the number predicted by CritScore; the number of ICU-trained nurses was consistently below that ascertained by CritScore. This unit was staffed on average with more than 50 nonpermanent staff who were employed on a temporary basis via agencies. Conclusion. The number of nursing hands allocated is important; but even more so is the quality; or competence; of these hands. Nursing care without an acceptable level of competence in a critical care unit may be considered as a potentially harmful intrusion for the patient
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Patients
/
Professional Competence
/
Quality of Health Care
/
Nursing Staff
Language:
English
Journal:
South. Afr. j. crit. care (Online)
Year:
2007
Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS